Carnegie LEE Foundation Hosts Inaugural Rookie Artist Competition Finals

The Carnegie LEE Foundation celebrated its 7th anniversary by hosting its inaugural Rookie Artist Competition finals and a "VIP Before Party" on July 16. Established in 2018, the foundation aims to promote cultural arts and protect the environment through performances and nurturing emerging artists.

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We planned this to provide a foundation for young artists with excellent skills to continue growing, even if they don't have opportunities to perform.

This competition, which attracted 140 young artists from across the country, provided a crucial platform for talented individuals who may lack opportunities to perform. The foundation's philosophy, "When businesses thrive, artists thrive, and when artists thrive, the nation thrives," was central to the event. Unlike traditional entrance-exam-focused evaluations, the finals incorporated a "convergence judging system" involving not only music faculty but also business leaders and government officials. This approach aimed for a balanced assessment of artistic merit, social contribution, growth potential, and cultural impact.

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It was wonderful to feel the support from businesses, the government, and the arts community for young musicians.

One participant shared their joy, stating, "It was wonderful to feel the support from businesses, the government, and the arts community for young musicians." The selected winners are slated to open the "Carnegie LEE Foundation 7th Anniversary Jo Sumi Concert" on August 11 at Kyung Hee University's Peace Palace. Furthermore, they may have the opportunity to perform on the stage of New York's Carnegie Hall through the foundation's future global performance projects.

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It has been 7 years since I founded the foundation, wanting to share the deep artistic inspiration I felt on the Carnegie Hall stage with Korea's gem-like talents.

The event was supported by Marevo in Wave, a complex cultural space, and Ediya Coffee, which provided coffee for judges, participants, and staff. Carnegie LEE Foundation Director Lee Ye-young expressed her desire to share the profound artistic inspiration experienced at Carnegie Hall with Korea's talented youth. She emphasized the event as a collaborative effort by businesses, government, media, and academia to support artists' dreams, pledging the foundation's commitment to becoming a strong support system for these emerging artists to grow into global stars.

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This event is a stage of solidarity where businesses, government, media, and academia have joined hands to help artists realize their dreams, and we will become a strong wing for the discovered rookie artists to grow into stars on the world stage.