Classic Cello Winner Jung-A Kim Joins IMG Artists
A defining moment in Jung-A Kim's growing international profile came in 2026, when she won First Prize at the Classic Cello International Competition at London's Royal College of Music. Competing against a field of highly accomplished young professionals in a competition open to cellists up to the age of forty, Jung-A impressed audiences and jury members alike with her artistry, maturity and poise.
Her performances culminated in a winning interpretation of Schumann's Cello Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Tomàs Grau. Alongside First Prize, she was also awarded the prestigious Florian Leonhard Fellowship Special Prize.
Already recognized as one of the most remarkable young cellists of her generation, Jung-A first attracted international attention in 2023 when, at just eleven years old, she became the youngest-ever First Prize winner in the cello division of the Young Tchaikovsky International Competition. In addition to the top prize, she received four special awards, demonstrating an exceptional level of musical and technical maturity at a remarkably young age.
Since making her debut at the age of ten in the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series, Jung-A has accumulated an impressive list of achievements, earning top prizes at competitions including the Kwon Hyuk-Ju Competition, Music Journal Competition, International Dotzauer Competition, David Popper International Cello Competition, and Manhattan International Music Competition.
As a soloist, she has appeared with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korean Chamber Orchestra, and Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Her growing international profile has led to invitations across Europe and Asia, with performances in Germany, Belgium, Hungary, China, Japan, and South Korea.
Recent highlights include appearances at the Tchaikovsky 185th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the Rachmaninoff Festival in Tambov, the Nagasaki Ojika International Music Festival, the Mostly Cello Festival in Seoul, the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, and the Tongyeong International Music Foundation's Discovering Tomorrow: Young Artist Showcase.
Currently studying at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts under Kangho Lee and Noll Park, Jung-A Kim continues to build an extraordinary career at an age when most musicians are only beginning their professional journey.
Her move to IMG Artists comes only months after her triumph at Classic Cello in London and underlines the remarkable momentum of her international career. For Classic Cello, it is particularly rewarding to see its 2026 First Prize winner taking this next step on the world stage, following a victory that helped introduce her artistry to an even wider international audience.