Unsuk Chin, one of the world's leading contemporary composers, will continue as artistic director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival through 2029.
The Tongyeong International Music Foundation said on Oct. 19 that it had signed a reappointment contract with Chin, extending the term by three years to December 2029. Chin, who took the post in 2022, will have led the festival for eight years under the extension.
Since Chin took over, the festival has broadened its programming beyond contemporary music to include Baroque music, Korean traditional music, jazz and film music. Attendance has risen steadily as the festival staged performances pairing top international musicians with young Korean artists. This year's festival drew about 15,500 attendees.
Chin has also focused on nurturing young composers. Through the TIMF Academy, which involves ensembles such as the renowned contemporary music group Ensemble Modern and the TIMF Ensemble, the festival has identified emerging composers and presented their works on its stages. It has also run a program that selects a composer-in-residence and a performer-in-residence each year to spotlight the musical world of a particular artist.
"It is an honor to continue serving as artistic director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival, which represents Korea," Chin said. "I work with many institutions around the world, but the Tongyeong International Music Festival holds special meaning for me."
Chin is among the most prominent composers in contemporary classical music worldwide. She won the Grawemeyer Award in 2004 and the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 2024. In March this year, she became the first Korean selected for the Spanish BBVA Foundation's Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Music and Opera category, and in June she received the grand prize at the Daewon Music Awards. She serves as composer-in-residence at the Konzerthaus Berlin in Germany for the 2026-2027 season.