Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases online recording, music video before new Chopin album in August Pianist Cho Seong-jin / Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonCover image for pianist Cho Seong-jin's new album, “Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Scherzi” / Courtesy of Universal MusicPianist Cho Seong-jin will release a recording of Chopin's “Scherzo No. 2,” as well as a music video, via online platforms on Friday, before releasing his new album of Chopin's works in August. The winner of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, he is set to release the new album, titled, “Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Scherzi,” with Deutsche Grammophon, covering Chopin's “Piano Concerto No. 2” and four Scherzos.It has been a little over a year since he released his last album, “The Wanderer,” featuring pieces by Schubert, Berg and Liszt, in May of last year. Deutsche Grammophon's parent company, Universal Music, has said that this new album is Cho's first recording of Chopin's “Piano Concerto No. 2.”The digital album and a deluxe edition to be released exclusively online in Korea will include an additional three wJun 25, 2021By Park Ji-won
Britney Spears urges judge to end guardianship A cardboard cutout depicting Britney Spears is seen during a #FreeBritney protest at Los Angeles Grand Park during a conservatorship hearing for Spears in Los Angeles, California, June 23. AFP-YonhapU.S. pop singer Britney Spears urged a judge to end a controversial guardianship that has given her father control of her affairs since 2008 during an emotional court hearing Wednesday."I just want my life back. It's been 13 years and it's enough," Spears said in the 20-minute address via videolink as diehard fans chanted their support outside the courtroom.The 39-year-old star's finances and personal life have been largely managed by Jamie Spears since her highly public breakdown more than a decade ago, leading some adoring fans to launch a "FreeBritney" online campaign in recent years.In an empassioned speech where Spears barely stopped to catch her breath and swore twice, the star said the legal arrangement had left her "traumatized" and "depressed.""I'm not happy. I can't sleep. I'm so angry. It's insane," she said, adding that she cries every day. "I truly believe this conservatorshiJun 24, 2021
'Superband 2': Who will be next-generation band members? From left, Yoon Sang, CL, Yoon Jong-shin, Yoo Hee-yeol and Lee Sang-soon, singers and judges of JTBC's new audition program “Superband 2” / Courtesy of JTBCBy Dong Sun-hwaAmid a boom in audition programs, cable channel JTBC is ambitiously launching the second season of its talent search show “Superband,” which aims to put together musical minds and form a new band to spearhead the next generation of JTBC-aligned sounds.Although its previous season ― which gave birth to the bands such as Hoppipolla and Purple Rain in 2019 ― only allowed male contestants to take part in the competition, this time, the opportunity is open to women as well. The show will also feature contenders of various ages and nationalities, according to chief producer, Kim Hyung-joong. “The diversity in the participants will enable the viewers to appreciate a broader spectrum of music,” Kim said during an online press conference, Monday. “There are more eye-catching musicians in our new season, who will create great synergy together.” Another producer Kim Sun-hyung, elJun 21, 2021By Dong Sun-hwa
Baritone Kim Gi-hoon wins BBC Cardiff Singer competition Baritone Kim Gi-hoon / Courtesy of TLi Art CenterBy Park Ji-wonBaritone Kim Gi-hoon has won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition held in the United Kingdom, Saturday, local time. This is the first time that a Korean won the main award at the competition, which started back in 1983.BBC announced that the biennial contest chose Kim as the winner this year. He received 20,000 pounds ($27,623) in prize money and the Cardiff Trophy. The competition drew 16 competitors from 15 countries. Along with Kim, bass-baritone Park Ju-sung, also competed in the event.There are three categories of the show; “Singer of the World,” or main prize, “Song Prize” and “Audience Prize.” Baritone No Dae-san (1999) and bass Park Jong-min (2015) have been winners of the “Song Prize” category.“It has been an inspiring journey ― and one that I will definitely remember for the rest of my career,” Kim was quoted as saying by BBC after his victory.David Jackson, artistic director of the competition, was quoted as saying by BBC, “This year'sJun 20, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean composer Chin Un-suk awarded Leonie Sonning Music Prize Composer Chin Un-suk / Courtesy of Chin Un-sukBy Park Ji-wonKorean composer Chin Un-suk became the first Asian to receive Denmark's prestigious Leonie Sonning Music Prize. The organizer of the prize, which has recognized international composers and musicians since 1959, announced the award ceremony was held at the DR Concert Hall in Denmark, June 5. The award has been given out since 1959 to honor internationally recognized musicians, including composers and conductors. Past winners include iconic composers Igor Stravinsky (1959), Leonard Bernstein (1965) and Dmitri Shostakovich (1973).“I am deeply humbled and grateful to win the Leonie Sonning Music Prize 2021. It is an honor as well as a great challenge, all the more given my great admiration for the previous awardees, most of whom have served as personal heroes and role models during my musical life. I am enormously touched by the jury's accolade and feel a great affinity for the high artistic values represented by the Leonie Sonning Foundation. I look greatly forward towards reconnecting with your beautiful and highly artisJun 9, 2021By Park Ji-won
INTERVIEW 'We, From the First': Jung Seung-hwan sings of unrequited love Ballad singer Jung Seung-hwan is slated to release his new mini-album “Five Words Left Unsaid” on Wednesday (KST). Courtesy of AntennaBy Dong Sun-hwaWith the roaring K-pop boom, Korea's music scene is often misunderstood to be brimming with only the music of idol groups. There are, however, a plethora of other musicians who are boosting variety for listeners with different sonic styles. One of them is ballad singer Jung Seung-hwan, the crooner of the sentimental “If It Is You” (2016) ― a song featured in the soundtrack of popular TV series “Miss Oh Again.” Jung first became known to the public on the fourth season of SBS's audition program “K-Pop Star” (2014-15). After finishing the show as the runner-up contestant, he joined Antenna, a record label established by singer-songwriter/producer You Hee-yeol, one of the judges on the program. Prior to the release of his debut mini-album “His Voice” in November 2016, Jung took multiple music streaming charts by storm with “If It Is You,” carving out a strong presence aMay 26, 2021By Dong Sun-hwa
Korean Symphony Orchestra to hold first international conducting contest in Seoul Conductor Kim Yu-won conducting the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) / Courtesy of KSOBy Park Ji-wonPoster for the KSO International Conducting Competition / Courtesy of KSOThe Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) will hold its first international conducting competition in Korea from Nov. 10 to 14, aiming to cultivate and foster young talent from all over the world.Candidates who were born between Nov. 10, 1998 and Nov. 11, 1986 can apply for the competition. They will conduct pieces from a set repertoire that includes one piece composed by a Korean composer and one concerto work, which will be announced after the first round of the competition. The official languages of the competition are Korean and English, with a basic English proficiency requirement for all contestants.The application deadline for “The 1st KSO International Conducting Competition” is July 17. The competition entrants need to pass two qualifying rounds and the semi-final round to enter the finals, which will be held in November.The first prize winner will receive 50 million won ($44,583) while the second anMay 25, 2021By Park Ji-won
Rock band Maneskin wins Eurovision Song Contest for Italy Maneskin from Italy receive the trophy after winning the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, May 22. AP-YonhapA four-piece band of Italian rockers won the Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of Sunday, giving one of the countries hit hardest in Europe by the coronavirus pandemic reason to cheer.Maneskin's win was only Italy's third victory in the immensely popular contest and the first since Toto Cutugno took the honor in 1990.The music festival was cancelled last year amid the pandemic but this year's event in Rotterdam's Ahoy arena with its regime of testing and strict hygiene protocols was seen as a step toward a post-COVID-19 return to live entertainment.``We think that the whole event was a relief. We think that we were really thankful ... to have had the chance to be part of this huge event,`` Maneskin lead singer Damiano David said. ``This Eurovision means a lot, I think, to the whole of Europe. It's going to be a lighthouse. So thank you, everybody. Really,'' he added.Italy, the bookmakers' favorite, trailed Switzerland, May 23, 2021
American singer's journey from K-pop star wannabe to 'Miss Trot 2' contestant Maria Elizabeth Leise / Courtesy of Good Day EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooFor Maria Elizabeth Leise, appearing on TV Chosun's trot music competition show, “Miss Trot 2,” was a life-changing event.The 20-year-old from Connecticut surprised many with her fluent Korean, expert command of the Korean musical genre, known for its cyclic rhythm and vocal inflections, as well as the emotional intensity of her singing. Backed by a growing fan base, Leise finished 12th out of 112 contestants who took part in “Miss Trot 2,” which started airing on Dec. 17 and ended on March 4.“I went a lot further than I thought” Leise said during an interview with The Korea Times. She added that the show gave her a chance to be “doing what I want to do and make a living as a singer.” Leise said, “I'm officially reaching my goal in Korea and making my parents proud.”Trot is a genre of music that came to prominence in Korea during the 1960s and 70s. It is known for its unique vocal technique called “kkeok-kki” or breaking voice. Trot croonerMay 20, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
John Legend to headline Tulsa Race Massacre remembrance U.S. singer John Legend poses for the photographers upon arrival for the 50th NAACP Image Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, March 30, 2019 (issued 31 March 2019). EPA-YonhapGrammy-award winning singer and songwriter John Legend will headline a nationally televised ceremony in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, an event official said Friday.``When we sat back and asked ourselves who could really elevate this, who could take it to the next level, John Legend was obviously a great fit,'' 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission director Phil Armstrong told the Tulsa World.Legend will headline the Remember Rise event on May 31 at ONEOK Field. The commission was created to educate people about the attack by a white mob that killed an estimated 300 people, most of them Black.Legend is scheduled to speak and perform during the event that Armstrong said will include other, yet to be announced speakers and performers.Legend is a 12-time Grammy winner and has also won Emmy, Oscar and Tony awards.Attendance at the ceremony will be limMay 16, 2021
