In first visit in 14 years, the orchestra performs with pianist Sunwoo Yekwon and violinist Hilary Hahn

In 2019, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael engaged in an online tit-for-tat defending the use of the flag. He wrote on social media in support of New York-based singer-songwriter Sean Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who had posted a photo of his girlfriend wearing a T-shirt with the Rising Sun flag design online. His actions drew harsh criticism from Korean fans and many turned their bac...

In addition to devoted teachers, K-Arts‘ practice-focused education is also behind the school’s success, Kim pointed out. “For instance, our curriculum requires 40 minutes of performance time each semester, totaling at least eight performances by the time of graduation. Along with the vigorous feedback from professors, these sessions greatly help ready the students to take to the stage as profes...

The second half of the concert was presented by two string quartets, both of whom are first timers at the festival. Esme Quartet, consisting of violinists Bae Won-hee and Ha Yu-na, violist Kim Ji-won and cellist Heo Ye-eun, who founded the quartet in 2013 while studying in Germany, played Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s String Quartet No. 2, op. 26. Esme Quartet then joined forces with Quatuor Modigli...

South Korean girl group aespa will attend the U.N. High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development next week, its agency said Friday. The band will attend the opening session of the forum, to be held at the U.N. headquarters in New York at 9 a.m. on Tuesday (U.S. time), SM Entertainment said. During the meeting, the quartet will deliver a speech on the subject of “Next generation...

J-Hope, a rapper and dancer of K-pop supergroup BTS, topped the iTunes music charts in 84 countries with his first official solo single “More” on Saturday. Released on Friday, J-Hope‘s new EP ranked No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs charts in the United States, Canada, Spain, France and other countries. The music video of “More” topped 10 million views on video streaming platform YouTube in about...

A total of 37 South Korean nationals have won prizes at 25 international classical music competitions held in the first half of this year, a local cultural foundation said Friday. Twelve Korean pianists were awarded at 13 contests, and seven violinists won medals at nine competitions during the January-June period, according to Kumho Cultural Foundation. In competitions for viola and cello, fou...

Lim has many performances scheduled across the globe. One of the perks of his win -- along with the cash prize of $107,500 -- was the opportunity to perform around the world. Lim’s solo recital to commemorate his win is set for Dec. 10 at the Seoul Arts Center. Before the recital, he will take to the stage at least four times in South Korea: Aug. 10 for “Bach Plus,” Aug. 20 with the KBS Symphony...

Legendary punk rock act says first all-English EP released after 8-year delay is ‘big mistake’ and proud outcome

Beautiful Mind, a cultural and diplomatic charity organization, and audio equipment brand KEF last week signed an agreement to promote culture and arts for people with disabilities. The agreement covers cooperation in music education for children with disabilities and adolescents from low-income families as well as their orchestra activities, Beautiful Mind said in a statement. The agreement inc...

Rock band CraXilver, the winner of the second season of JTBC‘s band audition program, “Super Band,” made its official debut on Tuesday evening with the release of its first EP, “Make A Dash.” The five-piece band composed of guitarist Willy.K, drummer Danny Lee, vocalist Vincent, bass guitarist Cyan and keyboardist Oh Eun-chul held a press event in Seoul, ahead of the EP’s online release at 6 p.m...

Lim Yun-chan, an 18-year-old pianist who just became the youngest winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will join the KBS Orchestra led by renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun in a concert at the Namhansanseong Art Hall in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 26. Lim will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, which he played in the first stage of the Van Clibur...

When Korea was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, people here needed a way to relieve their grief, even in a sarcastic way. Although it is no longer widely performed, there was the genre of “manyo,” a popular form of folk music in the 1930s. Usually performed by musical troupes at the time, manyo songs generally had comic lyrics set to a melody that belied the sorrow and sarcasm und...

The KNIGA, fully funded by the government, was officially founded in 2008, after being operated as a preliminary school for Korea National University of Arts for several years. With three campuses across the country, the KNIGA currently has nearly 100 young students of classical music. Another pillar that supports young musicians is the Kumho Cultural Foundation’s programs for musical prodigies...