The winner of the 2009 "NEUE STIMMEN" International Singing Contest is Eunju Kwon. The 24-year-old soprano from South Korea took top prize with outstanding renditions of the arias "No word from Tom" from Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" and "Eccomi in lieta vesta" from Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montechi." Second and third place were also taken by singers from South Korea: bass Kihwan Sim and tenor JunHo You. Fourth place went to tenor Pavel Kolgatin from Russia, fifth place to soprano Andriana Chuchman from Canada, sixth place to Rachel Frenkel from Israel and seventh place to bass Mikhail Korobeyniko from Russia.

Twelve singers made it to the semifinals of the "NEUE STIMMEN" competition in Gütersloh. Seven of them succeeded in winning over the jury, receiving the chance to perform in the finals on October 30, 2009. The seven finalists are soprano Andriana Chuchman, mezzo soprano Rachel Frenkel, tenor Pavel Kolgatin, bass Mikhail Korobeynikov, soprano Eunju Kwon, bass Kihwan Sim and tenor JunHo You.

Twenty-four countries all at once! On October 26, 2009, the final week of the "NEUE STIMMEN" International Singing Competition commenced in Gütersloh. A total of 41 up-and-coming opera singers made it through the preliminary rounds held all around the world. They were then invited to Germany to rehearse with professional musicians and to sing for the jury in a series of auditions held prior to the semi-finals.