World Culture Networks introduces Korean musicians
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Song Hyo-sook, CEO of World Culture Networks (WCN)
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Song Hyo-sook has been introducing talented Korean musicians to Europe, the seat of western classical music.
In 2012, the 55-year-old devoted her private fortune to set up the Austria-based production agency World Culture Networks (WCN) in a bid to help talented Korean musicians reach European stages.
“We have seen a number of Asian musicians become popular in Europe over the last 20 years but there is still a glass ceiling,” said Song, who serves as WCN’s CEO.
“Many Korean musicians have recently proven their quality in many international music contests but they rarely receive the opportunity to get on stage or try out for renowned orchestras in Europe because Europeans prefer local musicians to outsiders.”
In September 2014, WCN held the third Korea-Slovakia friendship concert with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and top Korean musicians including tenor Chung Ho-yoon, soprano Yang Je-gyung and violinist Cheong Sang-hee.
A month later, the agency also hosted the Korea-Ukraine friendship concert in Kiev, where top Korean musicians such as tenor Chung and soprano Kim Young-mi were featured with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.
More than 10 concerts like this have been hosted under WCN’s management since 2012, and the agency has also hosted a number of Korean cultural performances in Europe as well.
In June 2012, WCN staged the famous “Nanta!” nonverbal musical in Vienna, Austria, with over 3,000 in attendance. The nonverbal “TAL” musical has also been performed several times in Europe under the agency’s management.
This year, Song has expanded her operations to Korea, opening several concerts including bringing soprano Im Sun-hae and world-famous pianist Helmut Deutsch to Seoul stages.
Her dedication to classical music has been highly praised in Austria, and the agency was selected as an official sponsor of the Chopin Festival which is held at Gaming, Austria, in August. WCN will invite the Korean Chamber Orchestra to the event.