“First rate,” said the New York Times about acclaimed violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, who recently participated in a documentary special about the formation of a multicultural children’s chamber orchestra in Korea.

“Hello?! Orchestra” is a humanizing documentary about 24 children from multicultural families in Korea who had never once picked up an instrument and whose stories have touched O’Neill.

“The fact that these angel-like children, who have never done anything wrong, cannot escape from discrimination and prejudice breaks my heart,” said the musician, who is no stranger to discrimination and prejudice: His mother, who is mentally disabled, was a Korean War orphan adopted by an American family.

There are approximately 150,000 multicultural households in Korea today, according to the documentary’s chief producer Lee Bo-young, who feels that music has the power to change lives. “The message I wish to send with this documentary is that despite people’s different appearances, languages or cultures, we must be accepting and learn to live together with one another,” she said.

“Through music, we were able to complete each other and I have the deepest care for all these children,” said O’Neill, who served as the director of this novice children’s orchestra. “‘Hello?! Orchestra’ is the best project I have worked on in my life.”

The new MBC documentary focusing on the concept of coming together through music, and the stories behind the lives of the children and their interactions with the renowned musician, will air in a four-part series starting Sept. 27.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)