K-Classical music shines at LA Phil’s ‘Seoul Festival’ with composer Chin Un-suk

Earlier this month Korean classical music artists were on stage at the Walt Disney Concert Hall much to the delight of audiences there at the invitation of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Our Lee Eun-hee has more.

Perhaps it's the dawn of a new era in K-Classical music.

A new generation of composers is making its mark, not just in Korea, but on the world's most prestigious stages.

Recognized as one of the world's outstanding orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic presented a week-long "Seoul Festival" at the Walt Disney Concert Hall from June 3rd through the 10th.

This is the first time the orchestra has dedicated an entire week of performances to a single country.

The entire program, featuring concerts that highlight rising Korean performers, was curated and directed by South Korean composer Chin Un-suk.

She is a Siemens Prize winner, often called the 'Nobel Prize of Music,' and currently serves as the artistic director of South Korea's Tongyeong International Music Festival.

"The opening concert at Disney Hall played to a near-full house and received an overwhelmingly positive response. The orchestra concerts that followed also received great applause and strong support from the audience."

The Seoul Festival included a collaboration between South Korea's Tongyeong International Music Festival Ensemble and the LA Phil New Music Group, under the theme "New Voices from Korea."

South Korea's young composers, including Lee Sung-hyun, a prize-winner at the Geneva International Music Competition, premiered works, all conducted by rising talent Yoon Hankyeol, the winner of the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award at the 2023 Salzburg Festival.

A university lecturer in composition, notes that while Korean composers once felt the need to emphasize 'Korean-ness' to appeal globally, they now naturally carry that identity, and are expressing themselves in more universal musical languages that resonate internationally.

"Korean performers have already shown their talent through many international competitions, and now it seems natural that this spotlight is extending to Korean composers as well. They bring unique ideas, creative materials, and fascinating sound worlds that resonate with classical audiences worldwide. In the past, Korean composers had fewer chances to be heard, but the global rise of Korean culture is now inviting the world to discover the depth and originality of their music."

Evenings highlighting Korean composers and artists who are shaping musical culture and building connections from Seoul to Los Angeles have shown just how strong Korea's classical music scene is.

"I love working with young Korean musicians, so I had high hopes for this festival, and it went beyond my expectations. Every performance was world-class."

After Chin Un-suk, the future of Korean classical music holds exciting promise.

Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.