Two Canadians set to compete in 2025 Isang Yun Cello Competition A stage for the world’s best young cellists Canada will be proudly represented at one of the world’s most prestigious music competitions this fall. Two young Canadian cellists, Andrew Ilhoon Byun and Elliot Sloss, have been selected among the 24 international competitors at the 2025 Isang Yun Competition. The event, dedicated this year to the cello, will take place from November 1 to 9 at the Tongyeong Concert Hall in South Korea. Founded in 2003 in honour of the renowned Korean composer Isang Yun, the competition alternates annually between the disciplines of piano, violin, and cello. It has become a proving ground for some of the world’s most promising young musicians, offering not only significant cash prizes but also coveted opportunities to perform with major orchestras and at festivals across South Korea. Canada’s rising stars For Canada, having two competitors in the field is a point of pride. Byun and Sloss represent two very different, but equally compelling, artistic journeys. Byun, the 2024 winner of the Windsor International String Competition, has been praised for performances that are “electrifyingly energetic” and filled with depth and nuance. Already building an international career, he has appeared in venues such as Alice Tully Hall in New York, and his upcoming season includes debuts with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a new album release. Sloss, meanwhile, embodies the promise of the next generation. A student at the Curtis Institute of Music, he began playing cello at the age of four and has since become a multiple prize-winner at the Canadian Music Competition, as well as a concerto competition winner with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Though still in his teens, Sloss has already performed at major summer festivals across North America and Europe, and he plays a rare 1706 Giuseppe Guarneri cello, an instrument as remarkable as his talent. The competition structure and prizes The Isang Yun Competition itself is structured in three rounds, focusing on solo, sonata, and concerto repertoire. Those who advance to the finals will have the opportunity to perform with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra. Competitors will be vying for a total prize pool of about $79,000 CAD, with the winner taking home roughly $30,000 CAD. Beyond the money, the first prize also comes with a series of prestigious performance opportunities at leading South Korean festivals and with orchestras such as the Busan Philharmonic and Gwangju Philharmonic. Special prizes are also awarded, including recognition for the best performance of Yun’s own Cello Concerto and an audience choice award. An international jury This year’s competition jury will be chaired by Finnish cellist Arto Noras and includes a distinguished panel of international musicians such as Clive Greensmith, Louise Hopkins, Maria Kliegel, Jian Wang, and Hiroyasu Yamamoto. The full roster of 2025 cello competitors Seungyeon Baik (Korea) Andrew Ilhoon Byun (Canada) Taewoong Chae (Korea) Yewon Cho (Korea) A-Hyeon Choi (Korea) Hun Choi (Korea) Amy Goto (US) Seohyun Kang (Korea) Alex Lau (Hong Kong) Youbien Lee (Korea) Jeri Lee (Korea) Carson Ling-Efird (US) Samuel Niederhauser (Switzerland) Chase Park (US) Claire Park (US) Sieun Park (Korea) Alessandro Sacchetti (Italy) Elliot Sloss (Canada) Miriam K. Smith (US) Francesco Stefanelli (San Marino, Italy) Jakob Giovanni Taylor (US) Simon Tetzlaff (Germany) Wanxuan Wu (China) Amelia Zitoun (US/France) A proud moment for Canadian music For Canadian classical music, the presence of Andrew Ilhoon Byun and Elliot Sloss at the Isang Yun Competition is more than just a matter of individual achievement. It highlights the depth of talent being fostered across the country, from conservatories to youth orchestras, and places Canada firmly on the map of international excellence. As they step onto the stage in South Korea this November, both cellists will carry with them not only their own aspirations, but also the pride of a Canadian music community eager to see its artists shine on the world stage.