July 16th, 4 PM, Masan Jihaeui Bada Library 2nd Floor Jihae Maru
Members of the Gyeongnam Happy Village School Happy Village Orchestra are dedicating themselves to practice.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The first concert of the Happy Village Orchestra of Gyeongnam Happy Village School will be held on the 16th at 4 p.m. on the 2nd floor Jihye Maru of Masan Jihyeui Bada Library.
The Gyeongnam Office of Education is creating Happy Village Schools as future-oriented learning spaces where youth and local residents cooperate to learn and grow together in the village, offering experiential programs such as woodworking, baking, pottery, upcycling, and cooking.
The Happy Village School has been operating the orchestra since November 2020 to address issues such as educational gaps caused by COVID-19 and to restore relationships within the village education community.
The orchestra currently consists of 40 village residents of various ages, from 7-year-old children to 75-year-old seniors, including 18 children, 5 adolescents, 9 adults, and 8 elderly members.
They are led by Joo Won-bae, the leader and music director, Kang Yesul, a teacher at Changwon Gamgye Elementary School who serves as conductor, and instructors Park Eun-joo, Song Seong-chan, Kim Ji-wan, and Jang Ji-yong, who guide the Happy Village Orchestra.
In addition to the Happy Village Orchestra, the Gyeongnam Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will make a special appearance to perform at the concert.
The concert is free to attend and open to everyone without reservation.
Park Hae-sik, a 71-year-old saxophonist and member, recalled, “I only knew musical notes from low Do to Si, and the orchestra, which I started at the encouragement of those around me, is now approaching its second year. It feels like just yesterday I couldn’t even produce a proper mouthpiece sound and only made air sounds.”
He added, “I can’t say I’m confident, but I plan to take the stage with the mindset of harmonizing with the other members, so I ask for your warm encouragement.”
Park Kyunghwa, director of the Happy Village School Center, expressed gratitude to all the Gyeongnam education family who worked hard for the Happy Village Orchestra and to the residents of Guam and Sogye villages who cooperated with the late evening practices.
Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon said, “I dreamed of the day when various village education communities in Gyeongnam shine together like the beautiful harmony of the orchestra’s first concert,” and “I bow my head in gratitude to the members and the residents of Guam and Sogye who worked hard.”
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