Born in Seoul in 1994, Bokyung Byun began playing at six, and by her teen years had won competitions held by the Korea Guitar Association, the Embassy of Spain, and the Music Association of Korea. She went on to take top prizes at the Vienna Forum Guitar International and the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA). Her special Asia Week program includes Capricho Árabe (Francisco Tárrega); Fuge and Allegro from BWV998… Read More

Accompanying the opening of Highlights, this meditative short performance of six-stringed komungo celebrates p’ungnyu, the classical ensemble music of Korean nobility. As a philosophy, p’ungnyu refers to a state of leisure where one celebrates arts and companionship. The evening’s performer, Park Min-ji, graces the audience with her komungo skills. Park graduated from Hanyang University in Korea, was honored at the Dong-A Korean Traditional Music Concours in 2009, and took first… Read More

Enjoy a meditative hour of stringed kayagum set to p’ungnyu, the classical ensemble music of Korean nobility and central theme of our spring/summer performance series. The Korea Society here presents p’ungnyuin its chul-p’ungnyu(stringed-instrument) form. P’ungnyu also refers to a state of leisure when one is elevated from the mundane to better appreciate poetry, music, and companionship. Park Yoon-suk, founder and president of the twenty-year-old Korean Traditional Music and Dance Institute… Read More

Enjoy a meditative performance of changgo, a traditional hour-glass drum, adapted for p’ungnyu, the classical ensemble music of Korean nobility and central theme of The Korea Society’s 2011 traditional music series. P’ungnyu also refers to an elevated state of leisure in which one can better appreciate poetry, music, and companionship. Percussionist Lee Chun-seung performs a solo Suljanggu, followed by a Samulnori and Binari featuring three additional percussion instruments, the kkwaengguari,… Read More

Enjoy a meditative performance of changgo, a traditional hour-glass drum, adapted for p’ungnyu, the classical ensemble music of Korean nobility and central theme of The Korea Society’s 2011 traditional music series. P’ungnyu also refers to an elevated state of leisure in which one can better appreciate poetry, music, and companionship. Percussionist Lee Chun-seung performs a solo Suljanggu, followed by a Samulnori and Binari featuring three additional percussion instruments, the kkwaengguari,… Read More

Minji Park explores late autumn's grasp and the onset of winter through a program of traditional six-string kǒmun’go. The evening’s selections pay tribute to the late season and highlight the masculine, deep sounds of one of Korea’s oldest native instruments. A winner at the 2010 World Korean Traditional Performing Arts Competition in New York, Minji Park will perform from the traditional Korean court and folk music repertoire. Wednesday, November 17,… Read More

Untitled document As the world turns to Korea for the November G20 Summit, The Korea Society hosts a musical salute reflecting the journey to Seoul: royal city, global city. Returning to The Korea Society stage, young kayagŭm great Rami Seo, who has played with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, explores world rhythms. Seo “journeys” from New York’s jazzy 57th Street to the hills of Andalusia, from Israel to the Mongol… Read More

The Korea Society welcomes young gifted greats from New York’s famed Juilliard School in its 2010-2011 Young Visions, Young Voices series. Classical violinist Brian Bak opens the series with a solo performance of Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Ysaye’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27, and Paganini’s Caprice No. 24. Bak is recipient of the C.V. Starr and Samsung Scholarships and studies with Professor… Read More

Untitled document The movements of Korea’s classical dance tradition reflect the essential rhythms of life in Korea. The exuberant yott’aryongch’um (Taffy Peddler Dance) walks audiences through the bustling marketplaces of Korea, while meditative, deeply symbolic performances such as the hwahyonmu (Lotus Dance) and sungmu (Monk’s Dance) explore the country’s deep Buddhist roots. From the gentle, gliding grace of the opening chaech’onmu (Choson Court Dance) to the thunderous drumming of the… Read More

The Korea Society kicks off a rich autumn season of performing arts with percussionist Vongku Pak on traditional drum, or changgu, Eddy Jo Martinez on guitar, and Jorge Mesa on bass. This scintillating trio will perform a sizzling hour of rhythms, beats, and blues to mark this fall’s G20 leaders summit in Seoul. Come celebrate Korea—a crossroads of music and meeting place for world leaders—with this soulful summit salute. Pak… Read More