Indiana University and K'Arts have joint concert in Seoul

By Jung Hae-myoung

Gwyn Richards, the dean of Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday, during his visit to Seoul. His school and the Korean National University of Arts held a joint concert, Friday. / Courtesy of Seoul Cyber University

Jacobs School of Music from Indiana University and the Korean National University of Arts (K'Arts) had a joint concert Friday at the latter's campus in southern Seoul, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of K'Arts Music School.

“This is a meaningful event in which 10 students from each school come to play at the concert and show the quality of our relationship,” Gwyn Richards, the dean of Jacobs School of Music, told The Korea Times in an interview at the Seoul Arts Center, Thursday. “It is also an incredible experience for the students to partner with students from other countries.”

The Korean and the American schools have had exchanges since 2012 with the help of Seoul Cyber University. They had a collaborative performance in March 2017, when string quartet groups from both universities played side by side.

The two schools have had exchange programs mainly for short-term projects such as joint concerts and operas with schools abroad or professional orchestras.

“American universities and Korean universities have very different school term systems, so the strategy over the last three years has been to focus on the cultural centers as best as we can to develop relationships with academic institutions and professional institutions,” he said.

During the projects, students learn from professionals from different schools and institutions. He expects Jacobs School students can learn and hone their skills with K'Arts students and professors, and K'Arts students with Jacobs School faculty members.

“Korean students are very strong at techniques, while the U.S. students focus on what they want to play with the techniques. I think this collaborative work will complement each other and improve their skills in different areas while they rehearse and practice together,” he said.

“We want the students to stay open because in recent years in America we were worried about America's ability and willingness to listen to alternatives and other cultures,” he added.

Indiana University is located in Bloomington near Indianapolis, with 48,000 students of which 8 percent are Korean. Jacobs School of Music has prominent faculty members including violinist Joshua Bell.