-From Immersive Korean Traditional Music Seminars to a Brilliant Collaborative Spring Concert
-Bridging Generations and Cultures with Korean Traditional Sounds and Western Choral Music
The Colorado community recently experienced a profound cultural “connection” that spanned from the classroom to the grand stage. The Colorado Korean Chorus (CKC), the Vista PEAK Preparatory (VPP) Concert Choir, and the Elevation Ensemble, joined by acclaimed Gayageum performer Eunsun Sunny Jung, brought the sounds of spring to life through a series of events that celebrated diversity and harmony.
“Echoes of Korea”: Immersing the Next Generation
The journey began on the 17th at Vista PEAK Preparatory High School with the “Echoes of Korea” seminar. Launched by KPAC Indiana and led by Director Eunsun Sunny Jung, this open-to-the-public seminar offered local students a rare, hands-on encounter with Korean traditional music.
Director Jung sparked the students’ curiosity with familiar K-Pop references before delving into the soul of Korean tradition. After a seasoned performance of Gayageum Sanjo, students had the rare opportunity to personally pluck the strings of the Gayageum. The energy peaked during a Janggu workshop, where American high schoolers learned the Semachi rhythm by clapping and eventually singing Arirang in unison to the beat of the traditional Janggu. The one-hour session concluded warmly, with participants receiving their names written in Hangeul (the Korean alphabet).
A Symphony of Cultures: The “Connection” Spring Concert
The cultural exchange culminated the following day at the CKC Spring Concert, titled “Connection.” In their inaugural collaboration, CKC Conductor Taehyun TAD Kim and VPP Director John L. Richard Jr. curated a high-caliber program that seamlessly blended East and West.
The ‘Elevation’ Ensemble showcased a sophisticated stage, blending romantic and free-spirited live jazz harmonies with emotive choreography through performances of All the Pretty Little Horses, Fallin’, Lover Girl, Heart of Stone, and Don’t You Worry About a Thing.
Eunsun Sunny Jung, a Gayageum performer specially invited from Indiana, introduced the unique spatial and feminine melodies of the Korean traditional instrument to American society through solo performances of Gayageum Sanjo and Miryang Arirang.
The CKC delivered deep resonance with Korean lyrical songs like Gold Grass, which featured a serene flute accompaniment by students Jiwon Jang and Jihyun Rossi. A theatrical highlight was Byunghee Oh’s Go Classic, where soloists portrayed a charming spring wedding on stage.
The VPP Concert Choir delivered a professional-grade performance of gospel and choral classics like Total Praise, far exceeding high school expectations. The energy shifted dynamically when a student conductor led the group in Modimo, a powerful South African choral piece that had the audience swaying to the rhythm.
Lowering Barriers, Uniting Hearts
True to its title, the concert prioritized inclusivity. High school sign language interpreter Kherington Davis joined the CKC and the joint finale, lowering cultural barriers for the hearing-impaired. For the finale, every performer stood together to sing Psalm 23 and I Sing Because I’m Happy, uniting the audience across cultural backgrounds and generations.
The evening concluded with Director Jung’s performance—reminiscent of an Oriental ink wash painting—and a sweet gesture from CKC members who shared Korean snacks with the audience. It was a literal and figurative taste of Korean culture that left the Colorado community deeply connected. <Reporter Susan Lee>
