[Interview] Mokpo City Choir Conductor Kang Hang-gu 'The Artistic Spirit Toward Hometown'

"Creating the Choir's Color in Harmony with Citizens"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] It is often said that the most beautiful instrument in the world is the human voice. The Mokpo City Choir, which has been with the region with beautiful voices. Despite the hardships caused by COVID-19, the choir is taking strong steps forward. Let's meet conductor Kang Hanggu and hear the voice of the local arts community.

▲ Born in Mokpo, you have returned to your hometown and are pouring your passion as the head of the choir. What brought you back?

= It has been over 40 years since I immersed myself in the field of music and set out to explore the sea of learning. Although there is no end to all studies, the nostalgia for my hometown, which was the brilliant starting point of my life, rekindled my passion for music, and the choice was Mokpo.

Now, returning to my hometown, I am very happy to develop the value of art with our members and present it to many citizens.

▲ I heard that you showed exceptional talent in music since your days at Muntae Middle School. While you are well known as a conductor, the vocalist Kang Hanggu is less familiar.

= My musical journey began in Muntae Middle School when I joined the choir upon the recommendation of my teacher, Roh Jeongsim, and started my path as a tenor.

At that time, I was recognized for my outstanding musical talent by winning awards in national competitions, but I did not want to neglect my studies, so I gave up majoring in music and entered Mokpo High School to focus on academics.

However, the passion for music that lingered in my heart eventually led me to change my university path, and I enrolled in Dankook University's College of Music. In my second year, second semester, I participated in the Korean Music Competition and became the first tenor to win an award, gaining recognition as a vocalist.

Later, I deepened my musical knowledge by earning master's and doctoral degrees at the Mannes School of Music in New York. After returning to Korea, I played the lead role of Alfredo in Verdi's opera "La Traviata," touring for over ten years.

▲ What made you choose the path of a conductor despite your outstanding skills as a vocalist?

= In the past, many conductors were not vocalists. As a result, when leading choirs, they tended to adjust the music to fit the members rather than bringing out the best synergy among individual choir members. This often resulted in forcing ill-fitting roles on the singers.

To overcome this, I took on the new challenge of becoming a conductor with a vocal background. I began my conducting career in Dangjin County, Chungnam Province, while working as a professor in the Department of Practical Music at Cheongwoon University and concurrently serving as the assistant conductor of the Dangjin County Choir.

Although I studied vocal music up to the doctoral level, I lacked a professional degree in conducting, so I pursued a specialized master's degree in Italy and embarked on the path of a conductor.

The Mokpo City Choir comes outdoors, not in a concert hall, to connect with the citizens of Mokpo.

▲ Since your tenure as conductor, the city choir has shown significant changes. You have made continuous efforts to express diverse musical colors beyond collaborations or specific genres. What are some of these efforts?

= Although I want to engage in various performances, the restrictions due to COVID-19 make it difficult to broaden the musical scope for now. Once Mokpo enters the 'With COVID' phase, I want to express the value of art in various ways.

Before the COVID-19 spread, we performed at the Mokpo Marine Cable Car station for tourists, receiving great responses.

About 200 tourists waiting to board the cable car applauded, which became an opportunity to promote Mokpo. We want to be not just a choir focused on regular concerts but also a civic group that promotes Mokpo and coexists with the community through regular external performances.

Next year, in line with the 'With COVID' period, we plan to produce an original musical featuring Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a representative figure of Mokpo's Gohado and Nojeokbong.

Our city organization aims to align artistic value with the region, develop it into a tourism product, and create a performance culture that is cheered not only by Mokpo citizens but by the entire Republic of Korea.

▲ Many performances were postponed or canceled due to COVID-19, which must be disappointing. Especially, the regular concert in June was held online. How do you plan to overcome the lack of direct interaction with the audience?

= Our members also miss the audience's applause. Therefore, we are preparing performances using various online platforms, but actual stage interaction with tourists is most important. I am currently discussing this with Lee Jeongho, the choir leader.

We are preparing about two hours of performance every Saturday as a regular concert day and planning various online and offline concerts such as traveling music shows, but the schedule is still undecided due to COVID-19.

▲ The choir has recently arranged and performed popular songs that resonate with the local sentiment, such as "Tears of Mokpo," "Yudalsan, Tell Me!," "Mokpo is a Harbor," and "Spring in My Hometown." How have the citizens responded?

= As a conductor, I pursue realistic music in performance culture. Traditional standing choir performances are not suitable for the times and are difficult to gain audience response.

I believe music that can evoke choreography and resonate with ordinary people is necessary, so we have attempted performances arranging popular songs that can communicate with citizens. The feedback has been very fresh, and people say it creates a performance culture that anyone can hum along to.

▲ What are the challenges you face as a conductor in managing the choir?

= The biggest operational issue for the choir is securing enough members. To perform major choral works, usually 35 to 40 members are needed, but with only about 20 members currently, the choice of repertoire is limited.

Nearby cities like Naju and Gwangyang operate non-permanent members. Although it is financially burdensome, Mokpo should also accompany efforts and considerations to create value as a cultural city.

▲ Lastly, any words for the readers and citizens?

= An arts organization has two aspects. There is the progressive sublimation of art, but as a civic representative arts group, it is a symbol and a public figure. We need lots of practice and many performances. Efforts to show cultural levels visible to tourists and citizens are also necessary.

Creating deep cultural value is a challenge and ultimate goal the choir must pursue. Please continue to show keen interest in the choir's changes.