Known as the national instrument of Korea, the kayagŭm is played in many vocal and instrumental genres. Maestro Kim will perform both 25-string and 33-string kayagŭm and present the distinctively different virtuosic folk music from different provinces in Korea. The performance will be accompanied by one of Maestro Kim’s most well known pupils, Ramie Seo. Thursday, December 12, 2013 | 6:30 PM If you have any questions, please contact Estefanía… Read More

Performing viola and cello selections from Danzi, Beethoven, Clarke, Hindemith and Piston, violinist Caroline Johnston wows our holiday audience. Johnston, a Korean American adoptee, toured Korea as a young adult to widespread media acclaim. She has performed since across Asia, Europe and the United States, from Victoria Hall to Carnegie Hall, Alice Tulley, Kitara, and Symphony Hall Boston. Cellist Hamilton Berry, who has taught and performed from Sao Paolo’s favelas… Read More

Cello virtuosa Jiyoung Lee performs Bach’s Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, Crumb’s Sonata for Solo Cello, and Sibelius’ Theme and Variations. Lee, 25, began cello at age eleven and within five years was performing as a soloist with the Seoul Symphony Orchestra. Winner of the prestigious Korea Times Cello Competition and Ewha Press Competition, Lee performed with the Seoul National University Philharmonic Orchestra and recently won the Juilliard… Read More

Korean sinawi music originally accompanied propitiatory rites presided over by a female shaman, or mudang. The word sinawi is also synonymous with musical improvisation based on various rhythmic and melodic devices--the most important characteristic of this genre. This group of sinawi performed by five performers and varying instrumentation evokes the otherworldly sonic space of the shamanistic spirit realm. Dr. Ju-Yong Ha, a renowned ethnomusicologist, will provide historical context for the… Read More

The Korea Society is very pleased to present the traditional music and dance of the Chosŏn Kingdom courtesan, performed by Han TeRra, an extraordinary kayagŭm (12-string zither) player from Korea. Dr. Robert Provine, a renowned ethnomusicologist, will provide historical context for her performances, shedding light on the life and artistic world of a kisaeng. During the half millennium reign of the Chosŏn Kingdom in Korea (1392-1910), there was a class… Read More

The Korea Society proudly presents renowned p’ansori singer, Kim Sumi, in a rare New York performance of Korean traditional opera. P’ansori is a storytelling genre traditionally performed by a solo vocalist and a drummer playing a puk (barrel drum). The entire dramatic and narrative progression of the story rests on the singer who acts out all the characters, describes the scenes, and provides cultural and historical references. Kim Sumi will… Read More

Share in a musical global journey with virtuoso Mina Um, who took first at the Seventh Annual New York Music Competition and performed after at Carnegie Hall. She appeared as a soloist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Boston Festival Orchestra and Farmington Valley Symphony. As a member of the Juilliard Orchestra, she performed again at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Having appeared on ABC and in New York Magazine, Ms.… Read More

Celebrate Korea as a center of excellence in the classical arts with a short concert by virtuosa Jia Kim, who performs Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major and Cassado’s Suite for Cello Solo. Kim began cello at eleven in Korea, where she took first in the Korean Music Association Competition, National Symphony Orchestra Competition, and Young Musician Foundation’s National Debut Concerto Competition. She has performed at Carnegie Hall,… Read More

The Korea Society proudly presents Barame Soop (Forest, Wind and Rain) performed by the Sonagi Project. One of the leading percussion groups in Korea, the Sonagi Project consists of five musicians led by Chang Jea Hyo. The group has created modern, original music on the basis of Korean traditional rhythms and chants. Barame Soop concerts are built around changgo (two-headed, hourglass shaped drums), ching (gongs), and p'ansori (narrative, story-telling folk… Read More

The music of rare and exceptional artistic expression from North Korea will be showcased at the Korea Society as part of its Korean Traditional Music Series. Eun Sun Jung, an award-winning and talented young kayagŭm (12 and 25 string zither) artist from Seoul, Korea, presents some of the folk music of North Korea, selected for its vibrant folk music style and its contemporary interpretation of older traditions. This includes the well-known folk… Read More