Kim Ahin and Yoo Taewoong, KNIGA, Become Winners of the 6^th Viseu International Piano Competition

Kim Ahin, a graduate of the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts (KNIGA), and Yoo Taewoong, an alumnus of the School of Music, won awards at the 6^th Viseu International Piano Competition. Kim took First Prize and the Audience Award while Yoo received Third Prize.

Kim Ahin was awarded a total of 9,500 euros (15.2 million Korean won) in prize money, along with opportunities to perform at the Animato Association (France) and the Viseu Spring Music Festival 2026. Meanwhile, Yoo Taewoong received 2,000 euros (3.2 million Korean won) in prize money.

The Viseu International Piano Competition is part of Portugal’s renowned Viseu Spring Music Festival. Since its inception in 2014, the competition has been held annually, alternating between piano and guitar categories. It is open to performers under the age of 30. This year, a youth section for those under 17 was introduced for the first time.

Throughout the competition’s history, pianist Sun Youl won Second Prize and the Audience Award at the 5^th competition in 2023. In 2019, pianist Bruce Liu (Chinese name Liu Xiaoyu), winner of the XVIII International Piano Competition, shared First Prize with Xu Qianyi.

Kim Ahin graduated from Yewon School and completed the program at KNIGA, studying under pianists Kim Daejin and Yoon Youjin. Kim is currently studying with Prof. Olivier Gardon at the École Normale de Musique de Paris in France.

Yoo Taewoong studied at Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School, and K-Arts during his music education. He studied under pianists Kim Daejin and Sohn Eun-jung. Currently, he is pursuing the Concert Exam (Konzertexamen) after earning his MA under Professor Bernd Glemser at the Würzburg University of Music.