Taiwan's Chen Wei-chung places 1st in int'l conducting competition

Taipei, June 15 (CNA) Taiwan's Chen Wei-chung (陳巍中) won first prize at the inaugural Eskişehir International Gürer Aykal Conducting Competition in Turkey on Sunday, according to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO).

The award includes 7,500 euros (US$8,709) in prize money and opportunities to conduct four concerts with Turkish orchestras.

The competition was open to conductors born after Jan. 1, 1991. Chen advanced through the preliminary round with a submitted performance video, and the first and second stages in Eskişehir before reaching the third and final stage, where he claimed the top prize.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese conductor Brian Liao (廖元宏) received the competition's special prize.

According to an NSO statement, Chen said Executive Director Lydia Wen-chen Kuo (郭玟岑) called to congratulate him shortly after the results were announced, and he thanked the orchestra for its support throughout the competition.

He also expressed gratitude for the NSO's master class program led by Conductor Emeritus Lü Shao-chia (呂紹嘉), for which he was selected three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.

Chen described the experience as "the most eye-opening time" of his musical development.

According to the NSO, Chen joined the Chien Kuo High School Marching Band as a student and developed an interest in conducting after realizing the significant influence a conductor has on an ensemble's sound.

He later studied in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology at National Taiwan University while continuing his musical training. He was subsequently admitted to the master's program in the Department of Music at National Taiwan Normal University.

After receiving a government scholarship to study abroad, Chen enrolled in the doctoral program in orchestral conducting at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he is currently pursuing his degree.

Speaking to CNA, Chen said his scientific background helps him analyze musical scores more rationally, while conducting also requires emotional sensitivity and artistic intuition.

Chen also thanked his family for supporting his decision to leave medical studies behind and pursue a music career even though "the path of conducting is tough."

The Eskişehir International Gürer Aykal Conducting Competition was held June 8-15 and is intended to become a biennial event.

Named after one of Turkey's most accomplished conductors, the competition aims to discover emerging talent and build international recognition, according to its official website.