Overview

• She received the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Ministry of Culture in late May in recognition of her contributions to French art and culture.
• Jo launched the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition in 2024 to provide performance opportunities for young vocalists from Asia and South America.
• The concert “The Magic: Sumi Jo & Winners” opens this week in Jeonju and will visit Seongnam, Seoul and Chuncheon through June 24.
• The inaugural competition crowned Chinese baritone Li Zihao, Romanian tenor George Virban, Korean tenor Lee Ki-up and French soprano Juliette Tacchino as its top prizewinners.
• Jo plans a dedicated music festival next year to mark her 40th international anniversary and intends to release a new album in spring 2026.