A South Korean musician has captured the Calgary-based Honens International Piano Competition, one of the world's top prizes for young pianists.

Minsoo Sohn was awarded the prize, which comes with a cash award of $35,000, after beating out four other finalists, all of whom competed Thursday and Friday at Calgary's Jack Singer Concert Hall in the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts.

"It's been an extraordinary celebration of a new generation of musicians," Stephen McHolm, executive director of the Calgary-based competition, said in a statement.

"These young artists take the best of Calgary to the world."

The Honens competition is sponsored through donations from Calgary corporations. In addition to the cash award, Sohn receives a three-season artistic and career development program valued at more than $100,000.

"I'm just very, very grateful," Sohn told the Calgary Herald. "Every ounce of my blood, skin and passion was in the music."

Sohn, 30, who also plays the organ, studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. He has performed with orchestras in South Korea, Europe, Israel and across the United States.

The chair of the judging panel, William Aide, called it a "very close race."

The other four finalists were rated:

• Second Laureate: Hinrich Alpers, Germany ($25,000).
• Third Laureate: Hong Xu, China ($17,500).
• Fourth Finalist: Spencer Myer, United States ($6,000).
• Fifth Finalist: Serhiy Salov, Ukraine ($6,000).

Salov is a Montreal resident who won the First Grand Prize and the People's Award at the 2004 Montreal International Musical Competition.

Established in 1991, Honens competition is held every three years to seek out young pianists who demonstrate versatility, individuality and a keen musical awareness.