By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Renowned figures of the Korean art world will become honorary professors for young students. Artists including conductor Chung Myung-whun, soprano Sumi Jo and ballerina Kang Sue-jin hope to inspire elementary, middle and high school students through a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The lecture series was launched last October in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology with the aim of encouraging underprivileged children amid the faltering economy, the culture ministry said, Tuesday.
``The program will be more than just one-time events. It will make way for student-teacher communication and revamp arts education through performances with commentaries; exploration of arts and culture scenes; opportunities to play with orchestras; and camps,'' said the ministry.
Maestro Chung, who extended his contract with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, has set off on a busy season with serial concerts, charity events and the lectures for children. ``Music Story With Maestro'' begins Friday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Some 8,000 students and 4,000 parents will be invited. The first lecture will be on symphony music, with a concentration on Beethoven's Symphony Nos. 5 and 9. Three other lectures will take place June 19 on opera, Aug. 11 on ballet scores and Dec. 29 on concertos.
For all classical music fans, the conductor will appear with the Seoul Philharmonic tonight at the Sejong Center. The third of the Masterpiece concert series features Stravinsky's ``The Rite of Spring'' and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 with Irish pianist Finghin Collins. Tickets cost 10,000 to 70,000 won. For information about the lecture series and concert, call (02) 3700-6300.
In October, star soprano Jo will accompany a youth orchestra comprising underprivileged children for a tour through Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province. On April 26, prima ballerina Kang will meet and converse with the child audience of an international dance gala performance that is to take place that day at Seongnam Arts Center.
Meanwhile, Kim Dae-jin, pianist and music director of the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, will give music classes Aug. 20 and Dec. 16 in Suwon. Violinist Park Joo-young will perform and provide commentaries about music for the young audience April 3 in Ulsan, April 18 at the Sejong Center and June 5 in Daegu. In addition to classical music, students can learn about Korean folk songs with ``haegeum'' (two-string fiddle) artist Kang Eun-il (March 14 in Busan, March 20 in Bundang and March 27 at the Seoul Museum of History) and ``samulnori'' (folk percussion music) founding forefather Kim Duk-soo (through November at Nanta Theater in Cheongdam-dong).
Other honorary professors include poet Chung Ho-seung and singer Ahn Chi-hwan, who will offer and speak about music with poetry-inspired lyrics, March 28, at Pyeongchang Art Hall. Cartoonist Lee Won-bok, designer Kim Young-se and artist Oh Kyung-hwan will provide an opportunity for children to watch the creative processes of their respective medium. Directors Park Chong-won and Shim Hyung-rae will host camps in the summer.
Underprivileged children either recommended by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affair, or enlisted in the culture ministry's education programs, will be invited to the classes. Regular students can apply through the education ministry (www.mest.go.kr), or the local office of education (www.sen.go.kr for Seoul).