Leading soprano Sumi Jo to build arts school in Changwon

Grammy-winning soprano Sumi Jo will establish an arts school in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. / Korea Times File

• Published Sep 1, 2016 2:29 PM KST
• Updated Sep 1, 2016 2:29 PM KST

By Lee Jin-a

Leading Korean soprano Sumi Jo will build an arts school in the city of Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province -- the hometown of her parents.

On Tuesday, Jo and Ahn Sang-soo, the city mayor, signed a contract to establish the school. The starting date for construction has not yet been scheduled, the city said.

According to the agreement, Jo will back the school that educates students to become global artists while the city will provide administrative and financial support.

“Changwon is a special place for me because it is where my parents lived,” Jo said. “I would like to foster students to be artists who know how to share their talents with their community.”

Following the agreement, Changwon appointed Jo as an honorary ambassador of culture for the city.