Baritone Choi Insik on Dec. 12 won the first and public prizes at the Vincero World Singing Competition at Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, Italy. (Teresa Rothwangl)

By Kim Hyelin

Baritone Choi Insik has won the first and public prizes at the Vincero World Singing Competition held at the opera theater Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, Italy.

A global contest for opera singers ages 18-35, the contest this year was dedicated to Franco Zeffirelli, a famous Italian producer and director of films and operas.

Korean media said more than 700 vocalists around the world entered the competition, with 77 of them including 11 Koreans qualifying for the finals. In the last round, Choi performed "Cortigiani Vil Razza Dannata" (Accursed Race of Courtiers), a song from Verdi's opera "Rigoletto."

After graduating from Busan High School of Arts, Choi studied under professor Kim Kwan-dong at the College of Music of Yonsei University in Seoul and graduated sum la cum laude with a degree in voice. Completing a master's and a postgraduate course for top performers at Cologne University of Music in Germany, he has since 2015 performed as a soloist for the Cologne Opera.

In 2018, the vocalist won third and the audience award at the Opera de Tenerife International Singing Competition of Spain. In 2020, he placed fourth and claimed the audience award and a special invitational performance prize at the Tenor Vinas Contest in Barcelona, Spain. 

"I entered the competition thinking that it was my last chance to get recognized," Choi was quoted by Korean media as saying on Dec. 12 after receiving the award. "I'm so happy to receive a good result."

kimhyelin211@korea.kr