Artists to Inspire Children in Lectures

Renowned figures of the Korean art world will become honorary professors for young students. Artists including conductor Chung Myung-whun, soprano Sumi Jo and ballerina Kang Sue-jin hope to inspire elementary, middle and high school students through a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The lecture series was launched last October in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology with the aim of encouraging underprivileged children amid the faltering economy, the culture ministry said, Tuesday.

``The program will be more than just one-time events. It will make way for student-teacher communication and revamp arts education through performances with commentaries; exploration of arts and culture scenes; opportunities to play with orchestras; and camps,’’ said the ministry.

Maestro Chung, who extended his contract with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, has set off on a busy season with serial concerts, charity events and the lectures for children. ``Music Story With Maestro’’ begins Friday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Some 8,000 students and 4,000 parents will be invited. The first lecture will be on symphony music, with a concentration on Beethoven’s Symphony Nos. 5 and 9. Three other lectures will take place June 19 on opera, Aug. 11 on ballet scores and Dec. 29 on concertos.

For all classical music fans, the conductor will appear with the Seoul Philharmonic tonight at the Sejong Center. The third of the Masterpiece concert series features Stravinsky’s ``The Rite of Spring’’ and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 with Irish pianist Finghin Collins. Tickets cost 10,000 to 70,000 won. For information about the lecture series and concert, call (02) 3700-6300.

In October, star soprano Jo will accompany a youth orchestra comprising underprivileged children for a tour through Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province. On April 26, prima ballerina Kang will meet and converse with the child audience of an international dance gala performance that is to take place that day at Seongnam Arts Center. >>More

Read about maestro Chung's other charity projects, such as the Boystown Orchestra.

Violinist Daishin Kashimoto, Maestro Chung to Take Stage

This is the 18th in a series of interviews with the next generation of classical musicians. ― ED.


A soaring number of Asian musicians can be spotted in major world orchestras, but only a handful of star soloists like Japanese violinist Midori shines through. The future seems bright, however, with the next generation of promising artists like pianist Kim Sun-wook, cellist Han-na Chang and violinist Daishin Kashimoto ― the latter being ``a jewel-like presence,'' according to music critic Lee Chang-song (Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Magazine, September 2007).

Born in London in 1979, Kashimoto started playing the violin at age three. He entered the Juilliard School pre-college in New York as its youngest student (age seven) and continued his studies in Germany, where he is currently based. His accomplishments include winning, the youngest ever in history, of both the 1996 International Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition in Vienna and the Marguerite Long-Jacque Thibaud International Competition for Piano and Violin in Paris.

The 29-year-old appears in major concert venues with such conductors as Chung Myung-whun and Lorin Maazel and artists like Mischa Maisky and Yuri Bashmet. He revisits Korea July 29-30 to perform with the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra (APO). Joining him are Maestro Chung, as pianist, and esteemed Chinese cellist Wang Jian for Beethoven's Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56.

The Korea Times conducted an email interview with Kashimoto to discuss his thoughts about music.

Q How did you fall in love with the violin?

A ``The reason why I started violin was because of my mother, a pianist. She gave me toys of various instruments when I was small and I chose a toy violin, as it was more fun for me to have things in both hands (bow in one and the instrument in another). My mother loves music and she went to concerts when she was pregnant. So, in a way, I was listening music from that time and unconsciously music has been a part of my life.''

Q What is music to you?

A ``Music is, for me, the only method to deliver all of the human emotions to others beyond differences of culture and languages. It is a precious way to communicate with people without words. Even with the same piece, every time I play the music, I cannot feel the same. Music is a living thing in a way and is essential for humanity.''

Q How does heritage affect your musicality, if any?

A ``I feel that Asian (musicians) have a sensitivity that is unique to Asian people, and I think that it reflects in the music we play. There are many musicians with great talent from Asian countries. This is already becoming recognized in Europe, and I think that people are now paying a lot of attention to Asian musicians. I believe that there will be a time when all this talent will become active on the international stage.''

Q: Welcome back to Korea. What is your impression of the audience here?

A ``I am always inspired by the great energy and power of the Korean people. I think that people in Korea are very passionate and the audience listens to music with great enthusiasm.''

Q The APO brings together top musicians from Asia and the Asian Diaspora. It must be exciting to play with the ensemble.

A ``It is the first time for me to perform with APO, but I have heard from friends it is an excellent orchestra, and that Maestro Chung has been working with them regularly. Therefore, I am very much looking forward to playing with them at the concerts. The most interesting thing for me is the fact that people from different countries in Asia with different backgrounds, education, language and culture are working together to make the music. It is, indeed, a wonderful idea.''

Q What is it like to collaborate with Maestro Chung again?

(photo with maestro Chung, Courtesy of Matthias Creutziger)

A ``I have had opportunities to work with him both at orchestral concerts and chamber music concerts. My recent CD released from Sony BMG was a live recording from a Brahms concert in Dresden (2006) with Staatskapelle Dresden under Maestro's baton. It had been a dream for me to record this repertoire with Maestro Chung. As a conductor, Maestro has incredible concentration.''

Q What are your future plans and dreams?

A ``Personally, I want to have a family someday. Whenever I meet with Maestro Chung, I realize how he is placing importance on his family. It seems to me that the family is a source of passion and a great support for Maestro. I am always touched by his (regard) for his family, and I want to be like him in the future.''

Tickets for the concert at Incheon Multiple Arts Complex, July 29, cost 30,000 won and 50,000 won. Tickets for the performance at Seoul Arts Center on the following night cost from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. Call (02) 518-7343.

After the concerts with APO, Kashimoto will appear at the Salon de Province Music Frestival in France and give a recital in Denmark. In October, the violinist will assume music directorship of a chamber music festival in Himeji, Japan. He hopes musicians from Korea will attend the festival.

Maestro, Son to Hold Charity Concert

With a group of energetic boy musicians, maestro Chung Myung-whun will wield the baton for the Boystown Symphony Orchestra in a charity concert in August.

The fundraising concert is expected to strike an emotional cord with the audience as Chung’s youngest son Min, 23, will accompany his father and will also swing the baton for the orchestra while the 54-year-old musician appears on stage as a soloist.

Internationally acclaimed as a virtuoso, Chung has conducted the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic. He will now guide a group of children from Boystown, a welfare center in Busan run by the Sisters of Mary who provide a loving home, education and medical care for boys aged between three and 18 years.

Concert to Strike an Emotional Cord

The Boystown Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1979 under poor conditions __ lacking a proper rehearsal space and even decent instruments. But propelled by the determination of the Sisters of Mary, the orchestra has since gone on to perform with world-class musicians such as violinist Sarah Chang.

``We wanted the children to develop lifelong talents, whether it be a sport, instrument or drawing,’’ Sister Kim Sophia, the head of Boystown in Busan and high school principal, told reporters during a private luncheon on Thursday at a restaurant in Insa-dong, northern Seoul.
``By participating in the orchestra, the children have developed concentration, cooperation and endurance,’’ Kim said. ``It also greatly helps the boys’ emotional growth.’’

Kim added that some 10 former members of the Boystown orchestra have continued on to join the country’s city orchestras, such as the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Others who were recruited to work at Samsung Group became part of the Samsung Philharmonic Orchestra.
The boys of Boystown were elated when Chung visited them in November 2005. Since then, the conductor and his son have guided the young musicians to play Beethoven’s Symphonies No. 1-4 in small concerts.

Classical music transcends aesthetics and possesses a depth that musicians must strive to fathom, explained Chung. In doing so, technique and talent are important, but fine-tuning the very spirit is crucial. In terms of spirit, Chung said at the luncheon that the children of Boystown are unmatched. ``They possess an incredible purity and balance.’’Furthermore it’s great, he said, if musicians try hard enough to demonstrate 50 to 60 percent of their fullest potential. It’s outstanding if they manage to get 70 percent.

``Of course you cannot compare these amateur musicians with students fully committed to studying music.’’ The musician expressed concern that many music students focus too much on the drive for success rather than searching for their own voice.

From Father to Son

The conductor is also famous for the Chung Trio with his sisters, celebrated cellist Myung-wha and violinist Kyung-wha. Now his youngest son has entered the classical music scene.

At the fundraising concert, Chung Min will conduct the Beethoven Triple Concerto, Op.56 with his father at the piano. Chung Myung-whun will then guide the boys to perform Beethoven’s 5th Symphony ``Destiny” in C minor, Op.67. Chung Min studied music and literature at the Lycee Internationale Racine in France and currently majors in instrumental music and violin at Seoul National University.

``It’s not (Min’s) `debut’ as a conductor per se,’’ Chung insisted about his son’s musical career. ``It’s more along the lines of volunteering and a part of his studies, so we’ll have to see. He’s not unfit (to become a conductor),’’ the father said rather humbly, but with much affection and even sharing anecdotes about his son’s early artistic ``signs’’ as a baby.

But the conductor also expressed concern about his fame eclipsing Min’s career.
Born in 1953 in Seoul, the pianist Chung debuted at age seven. After moving to the United States, he won second prize at the 1974 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow and graduated from the Julliard School in New York.

The former music director of Opera Bastille in Paris (1989-1994), he now serves as music director and principal conductor of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2000), the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2005) and Asia Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as special artistic advisor to the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chung also revealed his hobby of making batons by hand, using olive trees that grow in his yard. Unable to find a baton with the perfect balance and grip, he decided to make his own and also gave one to his son.

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., August 20, at the National Museum of Korea. Two types of tickets are available: ``Hope’’ tickets cost 70,000 won and can be purchased online at www.ticketlink.co.kr and www.interpark.co.kr. Or by donating an amount of your choice, you can purchase ``Love’’ tickets by calling (02) 518-7343.

For more information about Boystown in Busan and ways to support the children, visit www.bsboystown.or.kr.