The Choral Epic <HUNMINJEONGEUM>
Presented by The National Chorus of Korea & JH Arts Corp.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 8pm
David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center
(10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York NY 10023)
Tickets: $30
⬥ PROGRAM
Part 1
The Six Dragons Soar Up
A Tree with Deep Roots
Starvation
The Ignorant People
Sigh
Part 2
The Secret Chamber
The Sun and the Moon
Phonetic Letters
A Complaint Letter
Part 3
Promulgation
A Song of Palace Maids
Hangeul
The Great Heritage
Nation of the People
ⒸPiljoo Hwang
Hunminjeongeum, a creative work developed based on Hangeul, considered to be the world's most scientific alphabet and Korea's great heritage will be performed at the Lincoln Center on September 20th.
Hunminjeongeum is a work that was developed by Euijoong Yoon, artistic director of the National Chorus of Korea, as part of the creative cantata project and has been praised for presenting a new paradigm of choral music. It is a cantata* style of work consisting of 3 parts and 14 chapters, covering the background and the process of King Sejong's creation of Hangeul, the principle of creation, and the introduction of Hangeul.
The great narrative of King Sejong's invention of Hangeul, musical elements that cross all ages, and various musical expressions with the stage direction that leads all of these in perfect harmony make it a masterpiece that reinterprets the great legacy of Hangeul as a contemporary work of art.
The fusion of various genres including the orchestra, Korean musical instruments, chorus, and Korean traditional music accomplishes the harmony of East and West and of tradition and modernity. This presents the essence of Korean culture in a creative and dynamic way, and at the same time, conveys a deep impression by emotionally unraveling King Sejong's love for the people.
Premiered in 2021, Hunminjeongeum received enthusiastic support from critics and audiences, and was invited to major national events such as the opening celebration of the Gwangju Biennale and the Gangneung World Choral Competition.
(*Cantata: A form of vocal music developed in the Baroque period from the 17th to the 18th century, composed of narrative, solo, recital, and chorus)
For more information and to purchase tickets: https://lincolncenter.org/venue/david-geffen-hall/the-choral-epic-andquothunminjeongeumandquot
⬥ The National Chorus of Korea
The National Chorus of Korea, the country’s first professional chorus and its leading choral organization, was founded in 1973 with the main objective of pursuing the professional and artistic aspects of choral singing. In 2000, the National Chorus of Korea became an independent art organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and restarted as an incorporated foundation. Currently, the chorus performs five subscription concerts and over sixty performances annually, including project concerts, provincial concerts, overseas concerts, guest appearances, and official events.
The National Chorus of Korea has introduced an expansive repertoire to Korean audiences. The chorus has premiered a wealth of well-known choral works by famous composers such as Handel, Bach, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Carl Orff. Moreover, the chorus is deeply committed to the development of choral music in Korea and expanding its global popularization. Their tasks involve development and dissemination of Korean creative choral works, researching the way to express distinct vocal and musical styles portraying many of the special characteristics of Korean culture, and the formulation of methods of interpreting a variety of styles of music.
Currently, the chorus is being led by its 11th Artistic Director, Dr. Euijoong Yoon, who is devoted to strengthening and implementing the National Chorus of Korea’s musical mission and artistic vision. He has led National Chorus of Korea through various ambitious programs such as The Great Choral Series, K-Choral Classic Series, and Creative Choral Collections.
⬥ Artistic Director Euijoong Yoon
Euijoong Yoon is the Artistic Director of the National Chorus of Korea since his appointment in 2017. Yoon began his music studies at Yewon Middle School and Seoul Arts High School, later receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in instrumental music from Seoul National University. He continued his studies in the United States, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in choral conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, he was mentored by Dr. Earl Rivers, one of most highly regarded conductors of choral music in the United States. After receiving his doctoral degree, Yoon has guest conducted numerous city chorales throughout South Korea over the past 20 years, including but not limited to, Sungnam, Bucheon, Daejeon, and Ulsan.
Starting in 2005, Yoon served as the Artistic Director of Changwon City Chorale for over a decade, helping it grow into one of the top chorales in South Korea with his groundbreaking and expansive choice of repertoire. Yoon has also successfully hosted the Changwon Grand Prix and Choral Festival & Competition. His dedication and achievement as the Artistic Director of Changwon City Chorale was recognized with the ‘Choir of Changwon’ Award, presented by the Choral Federation of Changwon for his excellence in leadership. Under his leadership, the chorale also contributed to the growth of the city’s amateur and youth choirs, by providing many choral conducting academies.
Yoon has also actively guest conducted for internationally renowned choir venues. In 2004, he was invited to the International Women’s Chorale Festival in Salt Lake City to guest conduct and deliver seminars. In 2005, he was the first Korean to be invited to the International Men’s and Boys’ Choir Festival in Minneapolis, where he guest conducted a united choir with 500 members from around the world. He has also served as a guest conductor for the Boys’ & Men’s Choir in Herning, Denmark. Most recently, in 2019, he was invited to serve as a guest conductor for Seraphic Fire, one of the top professional choirs in the United States, and received a favorable review.
In addition to his conducting duties, Yoon has also previously served on the Board of Directors of the Korean Choral Directors Association and the Korean Federation for Choral Music. He is a former Dean of the Choral Conducting Department at Hansei University, where he continues to serve as Professor of Choral Conducting, having joined the faculty in 2009. Along with his responsibilities at the National Chorus of Korea, he is one of the committee members of the Asian Choral Association representing Korea. Furthermore, he was appointed as an art committee member of the 12th World Choir Games that will be hosted in Gangneung, South Korea, in 2023.
As the Artistic Director of the National Chorus of Korea, Yoon is devoted to promoting the talent of Korea’s choral music through the National Chorus of Korea to the World.
⬥ Main Cast
Baritone Jin Choo Kim
Graduated from Department of Vocal Music, Hanyang University, Mascagni National Conservatory of Music, Italy
Received prizes at Music Concours, Schubert Competitions, Genoa International Competitions, Palermo International Competitions, etc.
Invitational recital by Gangnam Cultural Foundation, recital of Schubert’s cycle song ‘Winter Journey’
Leading roles in operas such as ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, ‘Nabucco’ and ‘Tosca’ / Participated as a soloist in Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and Beethoven’s ‘Nine Symphony’
Baritone Jinchu Kim’s “Dream” album released
Served as a full-time member of the National Opera Company
Current) Professor of Vocal Music at Chugye University for the Arts
Korean Traditional Singer Bonggeun Lee
Graduated from Korea National University of Arts, School of Traditional Arts, Department of Music
Received the grand prize at the KBS Gugak Awards, the 28th Culture and Entertainment Awards for New Artist, and the 8th Korea 10 People who Shined the Best of Traditional Song category
Main role in the movie ‘Sorikkun’ (as Hak-gyu)
Awarded Best New Actor at the 26th Chunsa International Film Festival in 2021
MBN Chosun Panstar Judge
2021 KBS Immortal Songs, Open Concert, Traditional Korean Music Hanmadang, Troublesome Son in the Rooftop Room, MBN Lottery Singer, and many other appearances
⬥ Creative Team
Composer and Scenarist Byunghee Oh
After graduating from Hanyang University's College of Music, Department of Composition and Graduate School, he has been working as a composer exclusively for the National Choir for 4 years from 2018 to 2021, and as a full-time composer for Yoon Hakwon Chorale from 2007 to the present. In 2001, after premiering at the National Theater of Korea, the winner of the Hanyang University Wind Orchestra competition, and winning prizes in several composition competitions, he became known as a commissioned composer for leading municipal choirs and orchestras in Korea. Currently, he is being introduced as one of Asia's representative choral composers at conferences and world choral symposiums of the American Conductors Association, which have world-renowned authority. In 2022, he won the 10th Korea Hallyu Awards. Major works include choral epic 'Hunminjeongeum', choral symphonic poem 'Korea Fantasy', cantata for choir and orchestra 'Spirit of the Motherland', 'Light of the East', 'Song of the Wilderness', 'Rebellion', cantata for orchestra ' Revolution', as well as more than 500 songs, including unaccompanied choral songs, choral musicals, songs, and hymns.
Scenarist Gye Seok Tak
As a critic, Tak has been working in the field for over 40 years. In the past 10 years, he created the ‘K-Classic Organizing Committee' to create the K-Classic brand, the essence of K-culture that is at a higher level following popular Korean waves such as K-pop, and has continued to work steadily. He composed 9 cantatas, 4 operas and 40 songs. These excellent works were commissioned by the National Chorus of Korea and are evaluated as having secured the competitiveness to be optimized for the stage of the world concert hall. At the same time, he is a giant in the cultural world who has taken the lead in bold cultural policies while concurrently serving as the president of the K-Classic. He has worked on hundreds of columns and KBS broadcasting commentary, including the incorporation of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the normalization of the Seoul Arts Center's opera house, and the improvement of broadcasting of open concerts. Recently, as a publisher of K-Classic News, he is concentrating on building a creative virtuous cycle ecosystem by traveling to cultural sites across the country.
Dramatist and General Director Jisun An
After majoring in fine arts and obtaining an M.F.A. in video directing at Sogang University's Graduate School of Media and Video, in 2011, Ahn debuted as a dramatist for the film <Only You> starring So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo, and started creative activities. Since then, from 2013 to the present, Ahn has been creatively active as a playwright and lyricist for creative musical commissioned by Gangneung City, Gwacheon City, Yangju City, Gangneung Tourism Development Corporation, etc.. In addition, she participated as a creator of creative cantatas for the National Chorus of Korea, leading municipal choirs, the World Vision Choir, and Seoul Boys and Girls’ Choir, and planned and directed a number of choral stages. Ahn has participated in the adaptation and directing of <Hunminjeongeum> and <Korea Fantasy> by the National Choir of Korea, and has been praised for her understanding and planning ability for the classical stage as a creator, such as planning a media art concert during the COVID-19 period. In particular, Ahn is a young artist who is recognized for her spectacular directing ability.
⬥ JH Arts Corp
JH Arts Corporation, founded in 2011, is the company to introduce systematic Planning, Producing and Management System, and it has been discovering unique content by pinpointing demands for music and cultural trends. JH Arts Corp entered the global marketplace using globalization and localization strategies through culture technology and has been striving to create cultural values as added value for humanity.
With a focus on artistry, collaboration and professionalism, JH ARTS CORPORATION provides the marketing, press, public relations, production and management support needed to increase the reach and vision of an organization in the cultural and artistic environment of the United States, Europe and Asia.
A global cultural / art consulting company that applies and develops content. Our company established JH Arts (Europe) GmbH, a European headquarters in Switzerland, in January 2020 for a new paradigm of cultural business and diversity of cultural brands.