Absolute First Prize Winner Sungha Park Reflects on His Musical Journey and Award-Winning Performance
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Sungha Park, a young classical guitarist from South Korea, was awarded the Absolute First Prize in the Young Artist (Ages 14–17) category and the First Prize in the Modern A (Under 17) category for his performance of Danza Brasilera by Jorge Morel at the Beethoven International Music Competition UK 2025, Season 4. The competition was held from 1 July to 1 October 2025, with the official results announced on 21 October 2025.
Following his outstanding achievement, we invited Sungha to share more about his musical journey, artistic approach, and the experience behind his award-winning performance. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on the teachers and moments that shaped his growth, his interpretation of Danza Brasilera, and how he balances his musical development with school life.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey in music, for example the schools you’ve studied at, the teachers who have guided you, and how long you’ve been studying, as well as your goals for the future?
Sungha Park:
"My name is Sungha Park, and I am a sophomore at Chadwick International School in Songdo, South Korea. My musical journey began when I started taking piano lessons at Ms. Kim’s Piano Studio at the age of seven. Many of my neighborhood friends studied with Ms. Kim as well, so we would gather in her practice room, chat, and encourage one another as we took turns learning music theory and foundational repertoire by Carl Czerny, Ferdinand Beyer, and Charles-Louis Hanon. Because I was surrounded by friends who were learning alongside me, practice did not feel isolating. Looking back, that friendly environment helped me connect music with community, and it was also where I first became curious about how harmony and chord progressions work, not just playing notes.
One day after my piano practice, I was on my way home when a bright, resonant sound caught my attention. Curious, I followed it and discovered it was coming from a guitar studio nearby. The next day, I signed up for lessons and was fortunate to begin learning from Seunghan Lee. Mr. Lee is a professionally trained guitarist who studied at Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf in Germany. Under his guidance, I built solid technique from the very start and learned to play with precision, control, and confidence. At the same time, his open and flexible teaching style gave me the freedom to choose pieces I genuinely wanted to master, add my own interpretations, and explore music from multiple perspectives. That balance between structured training and artistic freedom strengthened my right-hand tone control, rhythmic precision, and phrasing through dynamics and articulation. It also helped me develop my own musical voice, a style that prioritizes a warm, singing tone and intentional phrasing, where I shape musical lines clearly instead of only focusing on playing the notes accurately.
In addition, Mr. Lee regularly hosts concerts and invites professional musicians to perform. I helped him organize these events by setting up chairs and music stands, guiding audience seating, and assisting with small backstage tasks like bringing performers water and helping with quick transitions between pieces. Through these roles, I learned how much planning and teamwork go into a successful performance, and I began to notice details that audiences do not always see, such as how performers manage nerves, warm up, and communicate with each other before going onstage.
Because I was involved behind the scenes, I was also fortunate to meet guitarists across various genres and listen to their music and stories up close. Hearing them talk about their practice habits, musical influences, and career paths broadened my perspective and introduced me to styles I had never explored before. In addition, after being introduced to jazz guitarist Jae-wook Chung, I discovered a deep passion for jazz. Today, I am a jazz enthusiast and a member of my school jazz band, J’Blu, where I perform on both bass guitar and electric guitar.
My goal is to continue developing as a performer while using music as a way to share meaning and passion with my friends, family, and school community. Music has always helped me connect with people across different backgrounds, and I want to carry that forward by creating performances that feel sincere and engaging. For example, in the jazz band, I have worked with classmates from different musical backgrounds, some with classical training and others with pop or rock training, and we still learn to listen, adapt, and build a shared sound together. Ultimately, I aim to grow not only as a musician but also as someone who uses music as a bridge, bringing people together, inspiring curiosity, and sharing the joy that music has given me throughout my life."
Could you tell us more about your award-winning performance of Jorge Morel – Danza Brasilera? For instance, how did you bring the music to life?
Sungha Park:
"My award-winning performance of Danza Brasilera by Jorge Morel was based on the idea that, although the piece may sound flashy at first, its true depth comes from understanding rhythm, structure, and phrasing. The bossa nova groove and strong syncopation are especially important to the piece, giving it a lively character that makes it different from many other classical guitar works. Instead of feeling heavy or dramatic, the music feels lighter and keeps moving forward with a calm confidence. The offbeat accents make it feel bouncy, and the rhythm pushes and pulls a little, which makes the piece sound playful. When that groove is clear, the piece does not just sound fast. It feels more alive, and you can almost feel the dancing flow under the notes.
Because of this, I focused intensely on rhythmic control, which was one of the most challenging parts of the piece for me. I practiced regularly with a metronome to keep my rhythms steady and accurate. I believe that building a strong technical and rhythmic foundation is necessary before adding personal expression, so I worked on accuracy first while also trying to understand the composer’s intentions.
For the final recording, I recorded several takes instead of stopping after the first one because I wanted it to sound natural and alive. To do that, I tried to keep the bossa nova groove steady while still letting the music flow. I made small changes in timing, volume, and how I attacked the notes so the accents sounded more natural instead of forced. I also paid attention to my tone, trying to make the melody sound warm and clear while keeping the accompaniment lighter so the rhythm could still feel like it was moving.
I kept refining by listening back to each take like a checklist. I noted specific issues, such as rushed syncopation, uneven volume between melody and accompaniment, or phrases that sounded too flat, and then re-recorded those sections with one clear goal at a time. Each take became a feedback loop: record, listen, identify one weakness, adjust, and try again. Through that process, I connected more deeply with the piece and performed it in a way that felt honest and personal."
What did a typical day of practice look like for you, and how did your family support your passion? How do you manage your time between training and schoolwork?
Sungha Park:
"My practice routine changes depending on my school schedule, but I try to stay consistent by keeping it simple. Every day, I make time not only to practice but also to listen to music, because listening helps me learn phrasing, tone, and style even when I am not holding my instrument. When I practice, I usually warm up to get my hands comfortable. Then I spend most of my time on the parts of my pieces that I keep messing up or that feel the hardest. After that, I play through the piece once or twice to check if everything connects smoothly. Instead of playing the whole thing over and over, I focus on fixing a few specific problems, like keeping the rhythm steady, making transitions cleaner, or making the phrasing sound more natural.
At school, I take advantage of short breaks to stay connected to music. During music class or short breaks, I go to the music room to review a few measures that need work, run chord changes, or practice rhythm patterns without overplaying. Sometimes I jam with my jazz band members, which forces me to listen carefully and adjust on the spot by matching the groove, staying in time with the rhythm section, and responding to what others play. Other times, I work alone and focus on the pieces I am currently learning, paying attention to details like dynamics and articulation. These short moments may not seem like much, but they help me stay consistent, and over time, they have shaped both my discipline and my musical identity."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Sungha Park:
"Participating in the WOMCO competition was a meaningful and motivating experience for me. The process of preparing, recording, and submitting my performance pushed me to a higher level of musical awareness. Because a recording captures every detail, including rhythm, tone, articulation, and musical intention, I found myself paying much closer attention to even the smallest elements of my playing. This experience helped me become more disciplined and reflective as a musician.
I am deeply grateful to my guitar teacher, Seunghan Lee, whose guidance and trust allowed me to grow both technically and musically. His encouragement to balance precision with personal interpretation played a crucial role in my preparation. I would also like to thank my family for their constant support and patience throughout the long practice and recording process. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to fully commit myself to this experience. In addition, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Antônio Carlos Jobim, whose music greatly influenced my interpretation. His approach to bossa nova, especially the light and gently swaying rhythms, shaped how I understood Danza Brasilera and inspired me to express it in my own way.
Overall, participating in the WOMCO competition was not only about the result but about growth. It reinforced my passion for music and motivated me to continue developing as a performer."
