Kumho Asiana Soloists Go Out and About
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Kumho Asiana Soloists, a chamber group made up of Korea's up and coming young musicians, completed an international tour last month and are now back in town for their national tour.
Founded by Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation last year, the Soloists gave their first concerts in October and December attended by members of the diplomatic circle and enthusiastic classical music fans and students. American ambassador Alexander Vershbow was pleased that several members of the group studied at New York's prestigious Juilliard School, where almost a third of the student body are Korean.
The group comprises of about a dozen members under the age of 30 who symbolize the recent influx of younger crowds in concert halls and heightened public interest in classical music.
The members perform in varying combinations for different pieces, including standard classical repertoires and world premieres of works by the Soloists' composer-in-residence Choi Myung-whun.
Soloists include star pianists Kim Sun-wook and Son Yeol-eum, as well as rising violinist Kim Ye-eun and double bassist Sung Min-jae. They completed their first international tour in Tel Aviv, Israel, where they performed with local musicians May 14-17.
Following their packed concerts in Seoul last Thursday and Pohang on Wednesday, the Soloists perform in Busan on June 11. The program features pieces by Ravel, Beethoven, Cassado and Mendelssohn. Admission is by invitation only.
Fresh faces joined this national tour, including pianist Lee Jung-eun, violinist Park Ji-yoon and cellist Jang Woo-lee. Also appearing on stage is cellist Lee Jung-ran, who is also co-principal cellist of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.
``We hope to contribute to chamber music in Korea,'' members of the group told the press in a previous round table. ``Some of us knew one another before, but because we're all about the same age it's great to play as friends and fellow musicians. We discuss our different thoughts during rehearsal, but like most chamber music work, it's non-verbal ― through music,'' they said. The Soloists will give another concert in Seoul in August.
Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation is one of the nation's foremost cultural groups and supports musicians through scholarships and instrument loans. Kumho Art Hall, located near Gwanhwamun in downtown Seoul, hosts concert series like Kumho Prodigy and Kumho Young Artists.