Buffalo Toronto Public Media and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra congratulate Bokyung Byun of South Korea who was awarded first place and Musician's Choice in the eighth biennial JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition on June 9, 2018.
Eight classical guitarists, representing five nations, competed throughout the week. Byun is the first woman to win the competition. Tengue "TY" Zhang of China captured Audience Favorite and second place. Congyi Zhang won third place, and also received the inaugural William and Carol Greiner Award for his performance of Ernesto Cordero’s Concierto Antillano. The Greiner Award encourages the performance of lesser-known works.
Byun will receive a solo concert at the Fondazione La Società dei Concerti in a recital among the series “Winners!” of Incontri Musicali at Gaber Auditorium in Milano, Italy, along with a $10,000 cash prize, national and international broadcast exposure, and a return engagement with the BPO.