Amway helps Multicultural Orchestra
Rho Won-ho, center, executive director of Amway Korea, poses with members of the Multicultural Orchestra after donating on March 9 musical instruments to the orchestra in the southwestern city of Gwangju. / Courtesy of Amway Korea
Direct-selling firm makes big donation with instruments
By Kim Ji-soo
Drums, cymbals, horns, trumpets, saxophones and synthesizers.
A total amount of 47.5 million won ($43,245) worth of such musical instruments arrived at the practice room of the Multiculture Orchestra in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, on March 9.
Amway Korea, a leader in direct selling in Korea, donated 35 types of musical instruments to the family-based orchestra.
The Multiculture Orchestra was founded in 2010 with about 80 members from mixed culture marriage families who live in the southwestern Gwangju and South Jeolla region. The goal of the orchestra was to share music and musical education. Because of the nature of its composition, the orchestra is the nation’s first such family-based group.
“A corporation donating musical instruments is rare, I believe,” said Kim Yu-jung, master of the Multiculture Orchestra.
“With the increase of multicultural families in the provincial cities, Amway’s giving of the musical instruments will be a large gift and boon for the orchestra families,” she said.
Kim, a 57-year-old cellist, is also the head of the Gwangju Women’s Philharmonic Orchestra, whose members share their talents with children of multicultural families in the wider Gwangju area. Kim said they estimated about 3,500 households consist of intercultural marriages. In all of Korea, the number of multiethnic migrants reached 250,000 in 2012. The largest concentration is in Gyeonggi Province with 27.8 percent, followed by 22 percent living in Seoul.
“We had been looking into sharing talent with the children of the multicultural families sometime ago, but it’s only been two years ago since we were able to start,” Kim said.
She and fellow members started with 80 musical instruments donated by the Korean String Musical Instruments Association. Kim said the orchestra is thrilled with the donation from Amway Korea.
“We’re really grateful. And they have pledged continued support, so that’s really helpful,” she said.
With orchestra numbers now exceeding 100, Kim is looking for a large practice room where all the members can get together.
She said the group still needs oboes, bassoons and tubas.
Amway Korea has previously provided support for families of multicultural marriages. In November 2012, the company founded the Nutrilite football team for multicultural children to help them grow physically strong and while socially adjusting to the community. Each year since 2009, they have held kimchi-making events with volunteers from these families, then distributed the kimchi to low-income families.
“Just as the various musical instruments come together to create beautiful music, Amway Korea will continue to support and maintain its interest in respecting diversity in culture and communicating with the local community,” said Won-ho Rho, executive director of external communications in Amway Korea.