Conductor Samuel Lee, a rising star from South Korea, clinched victory at the prestigious Malko International Conducting Competition. Lee is currently the Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and his win at Malko adds to an impressive string of competition wins, including the BMI International Conducting Competition in Bucharest and the International Conducting Competition in Taipei. Lee is the former violist of the Novus Quartet, a group that has performed at halls around the world, such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Vienna Musikverein, Cologne Philharmonie, and Suntory Hall. You can read more about his previous accomplishments here.

The Competition

The Malko Conducting Competition had an exceptional talent pool this year, including the second place winner Ana Maria Patiño-Osorio from Colombia, who was awarded the semi-finalist audience and viewers prize alongside the special youth jury prize, and the third place finisher, Dong Chao of China. Samuel Lee, however, set the tone from the beginning, with his distinctive performance of Haydn’s Symphony no 49, opting to include the harpsichord.

Lee’s baroque rendition was a risk, “It was a daring choice to begin in this manner, but I trusted in it, and I am gratified that both the jury and the orchestra grasped the concept,” remarked Samuel Lee.

Malko Competition 2024, Round 1: Samuel Seungwon Lee

In the Semi-Final, Lee delivered a breathtaking performance of Ravel’s La Valse, which he navigated with finesse and grace.

Malko Competition 2024, Semi-Final: Samuel Seungwon Lee, Ravel / Negron

For the Grand Finale, Lee took the stage for a stunning rendition of Brahms’ Second Symphony. This was followed with Nielsen’s Dance of the Cockerel. A fitting work to finish off the competition, as Nielsen is certainly one of Denmark’s finest composers.

Malko Competition 2024, Grand Finale: Samuel Seungwon Lee