The Arete Quartet won the 15th International Mozart Competition at Mozarteum University Salzburg in Salzburg, Austria. From left are first violinist Jeon Chae-Ann, second violinist Yoo Da-yoon, violist Jang Yoon-sun and cellist Park Seong-hyeon. (Arete Quartet's official Instagram account)

By Hong Angie

The string group Arete Quartet has won the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg, Austria.

The group's management agency MOC Production said Arete on Feb. 9 at 10 p.m. won the string quartet category of the 15th International Mozart Competition Salzburg at Mozarteum University Salzburg along with an award for the best interpretation of Mozart's string quartet.

The runner-up was Affinity Quartet from Australia and third went to another Korean group, Eden Quartet. 

Arete comprises four young musicians from Korea National University of Arts in Seoul: first violinist Jeon Chae-Ann, 26, second violinist and guest member Yoo Da-yoon, 23, violist Jang Yoon-sun, 28, and cellist Park Seong-hyeon, 30.

With three teams in the finals, Arete won first place by performing Mozart's String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465, nicknamed "Dissonance"; Toshio Hosokawa's String Quartet's "UTA-ORI Weaving Song" for string quartet; and Leos Janacek's String Quartet No. 1, "Kreutzer Sonata."

In May 2021, Arete became the first from Korea to win the string quartet category of the Prague Spring International Music Competition in the Czech Republic and five other awards. Last year, it earned a special prize at the one of world's most prestigious music contests, the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, Germany.

Founded in 1975 and held in Mozart's hometown of Salzburg, this prestigious competition is held every three years. This year's edition was the first in five years due to COVID-19.

shong9412@korea.kr