|
|
Taiwanese conductor and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) Department of Music alumnus Wei-Chung Chen won first prize at the inaugural Eskişehir International Gürer Aykal Orchestra Conducting Competition in Türkiye on June 14, 2026, earning the competition’s top honor.
Held in Eskişehir from June 8 to 15, the competition featured renowned Turkish conductor Gürer Aykal as Honorary President. Its jury brought together prominent conductors from across Europe, including Emil Tabakov of Bulgaria, Terje Mikkelsen of Norway, José Ferreira Lobo of Portugal, and James Ross of the United Kingdom. With its distinguished jury and international scope, the competition has attracted considerable attention and is regarded as an emerging platform for young conductors in Europe and Asia.
Artistic Director Rengim Gökmen noted that the competition aims not only to identify conductors with mature technical skills, but also to discover a new generation of musical leaders with independent artistic perspectives, innovative interpretive abilities, and an international outlook.
Competing against young conductors from various countries, Chen distinguished himself through his strong musical command, clear rehearsal approach, and mature communication with the orchestra, ultimately earning unanimous recognition from the jury and taking first prize in the inaugural competition. This achievement also makes Chen one of the few young Taiwanese conductors in recent years to win first prize at a major international conducting competition.
For young conductors, international conducting competitions not only provide opportunities to demonstrate their technical and artistic abilities, but also serve as important gateways to the international professional stage. Many prominent conductors active on the global music scene have built their professional visibility through international conducting competitions, leading to further opportunities with professional orchestras, music festivals, and arts organizations.
Chen earned his master’s degree in conducting from NTNU’s Department of Music, where he studied under Associate Professor Apo Hsu. He received a Ministry of Education scholarship for overseas study and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in conducting at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States. The international first prize marks an important milestone in his artistic career and once again demonstrates the strength and potential of Taiwan’s music education and musical talent on the international stage.
As his international career continues to develop, Chen will remain active in the fields of symphonic music, opera, and contemporary music, opening up more possibilities for young Taiwanese musicians on the global stage.
