[Arts & Culture] Meet Korea's conductors of tomorrow

Friday means it's time for our Arts and Culture segment.

Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin joins us in the studio.

Welcome!

Great to be here!

What do you have for us today?

Korea has been hitting all the right notes in the classical music world, with stars like Lim Yun-chan and Cho Seong-jin taking the world stage.

Now, the industry is setting the stage for a new generation of conductors to take the baton.

I had a chance to see one of these efforts up close.

Take a look.

Inside this hall, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is full in rehearsal.

But today, a new face leads the podium under the watchful eye of a familiar one, music director Jaap van Zweden.

The orchestra has opened its doors to rising conductors through the "2025 SPO Jaap van Zweden Conducting Fellowship."

Here, the baton isn't just passed.

It's being earned.

"To be in front of an orchestra, and be with them, and work with them is a completely different experience than preparing this in a room where you are alone or just with a pianist."

The eight young conductors, selected through an open audition, worked closely with Korea's top orchestra for three days.

"So 1, 2, 3, and then 4, 5, 6."

Van Zweden focused on three key skills: mastering the smallest detail, knowing when and why to stop the orchestra, and most importantly, how to fix something that's gone wrong.

"We always have to learn that the power is with the orchestra and not with us. We just bring out all the potential. Orchestra don't want authority by just being an authority, but they want to see the authority of knowledge, what you know about how to fix things."

These young conductors have already built impressive careers, working with orchestras across Europe and the U.S. and training at top music schools.

Yet, they seized this chance to grow because in music, as in life, there's always more to learn.

"It's really special that the maestro took the time to praise us. As young conductors, we need that encouragement. It gives us the confidence to push ourselves further. He doesn't overlook that."

"Most masterclasses last for just a day. This program is on a whole other level. We spent an entire week working closely with the music director and rehearsing with the orchestra. Opportunities like this are invaluable."

It's a priceless lesson, freely given, where a legend hands down everything they know, shaping the maestros of tomorrow.

Yoo-jin, the report mentioned that the top conducting fellows will be performing at the concert today.

Who are the lucky ones?

Three conductors have been selected.

All were featured in my report: Harris Han, the youngest participant, born in 2000, assistant conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra; Park Keun-tae; and Song Min-gyu, in order of their appearance.

Director Van Zweden said the orchestra members will vote on who they want to perform with the most.

The concert just began at 8 PM Korea time at the LOTTE Concert Hall in Seoul.

Each conductor is leading a different piece: Song Min-gyu is conducting Wagner, Park Keun-tae is taking on Mozart, and Harris Han is presenting Bartok.

The fellows shared that the repertoire was challenging but allowed them to develop new skills.

Congratulations to the three conductors and all the fellows on completing the program!

Could you also tell us about the significance of programs like this?

Absolutely.

I spoke to a classical music expert, who said that this could broaden Korea's classical music scene, not just producing world-class musicians but a new generation of conductors.

Take a listen.

"The conducting scene in Korea is still relatively small, so opportunities like this, which do not come often, are a huge step forward. Intensive, personalized training is crucial because every conductor has unique strengths and weaknesses."

And there's another exciting class by a world-renowned musician coming up.

At the Tongyeong International Music Festival, taking place in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, pianist Lim Yun-chan, last year's Gramophone winner, and the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra will hold a concert exclusively for elementary, middle, and high school students in the city.

This is part of the festival foundation's school concert program, which aims to expose students to performances by top-tier musicians, expand access to classical music, and nurture their artistic sensitivity.

The concert is scheduled for March 28th.

Yet another opportunity to learn from the best.

Yoo-jin, thank you for your report today.

My pleasure.