Nowon District to Host Opening Performance of Traveling Orchestra: 'Wolgye Cherry Blossom Concert'
Traveling Orchestra - 'Wolgye Cherry Blossom Concert' Reservations Open on the 28th, Free Admission for 400 Attendees on a First-Come, First-Served Basis
April 8 at 4:00 PM: Western Symphony Orchestra Performance, Featuring Singers Ivy and Yurisangja
Nowon District (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will begin accepting reservations for the opening performance of the '2023 Traveling Orchestra,' titled the 'Wolgye Cherry Blossom Concert,' starting on March 28.
The Traveling Orchestra is a touring performance program organized by the district to offer residents, weary from daily life, opportunities to enjoy diverse cultural experiences. Residents can enjoy high-quality classical music performed by an orchestra in everyday settings.
The district will kick off the series with the opening performance, the Wolgye Cherry Blossom Concert, at 4:00 PM on April 8 at the outdoor stage of Yeomgwang High School in Wolgye-dong. To allow attendees to fully savor the spring atmosphere and the cherry blossoms fluttering across the campus, no chairs will be set up in front of the stage; instead, guests can enjoy the performance seated on the lawn in front of the stage.
The main stage will feature a performance by the Western Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bang Seong-ho. The 48-member orchestra will present not only traditional classical pieces but also a variety of cross-genre works to the audience.
As this is the opening performance, the event will also include appearances by popular singers. The male duo Yurisangja, known for their hit songs "Can I Love You" and "To the Bride," will deliver a lyrical and sweet performance reminiscent of a spring day. Singer Ivy, who is currently active as a musical actress, will perform signature songs from hit musicals such as "Jekyll & Hyde" and "Wicked," promising a moving experience.
The concert is free of charge and will last approximately 90 minutes. For safety reasons, attendance is limited to 400 people, who must register in advance. Starting at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, March 28, reservations can be made by phone through the Nowon Cultural Foundation, with up to two tickets per person available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those who reserve in advance will be allowed entry starting at 2:30 PM on the day of the performance, April 8. After all pre-registered attendees have entered, any remaining seats will be filled by on-site waitlist guests.
Following this opening event, the Traveling Orchestra will hold a total of eight performances in local apartment complex parks throughout the first and second halves of the year. Applications from apartment councils were accepted to determine the performance locations, and upcoming dates and venues will be announced on the Nowon Cultural Foundation website as soon as they are confirmed.
Additionally, to celebrate spring, the district is preparing a variety of enjoyable performances and events for residents. In mid-April, the district's signature festivals, the 'Bulgamsan Azalea Festival' and the 'Nowon Street Arts Festival,' are scheduled to take place.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, stated, "I hope that the Traveling Cultural Performance Project will enrich the everyday lives of our residents," and added, "Starting with the Wolgye Cherry Blossom Concert, we have a variety of performances and cultural events planned, so I encourage everyone to show great interest and look forward to them."
Songpa Geulmaru Library Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Lectures Featuring 10 Authors Across 10 Fields
'Geulmaru Writing Contest' and 'One Resident, One Book Club' Among Special Year-Round Events
Songpa District (District Mayor Seo Kang-seok) announced that Songpa Geulmaru Library will celebrate its 10th anniversary by hosting a relay lecture series featuring 10 authors, each representing one of the 10 most beloved fields among library users.
To mark the 10th anniversary of its flagship public library, the district has prepared a variety of programs to encourage residents to enjoy books all year long, including the 'Geulmaru 10(ten)10(ten)10(ten)', the 'Geulmaru Writing Contest', and the 'One Resident, One Book Club Project.'
First, the 'Geulmaru 10(ten)10(ten)10(ten)' program invites the authors of the most beloved books among Songpa Geulmaru Library users in 2022 to give lectures in celebration of the library's 10th anniversary. The series will begin on March 25 with author Kim Sun-young, known for "Adult Literacy" and "Adult Writing Skills," and will continue through October, featuring bestselling authors in philosophy, literature, science, education, travel, and more.
Additionally, the 'Geulmaru Writing Contest' will run throughout the year. This event allows participants to try their hand at short-form writing in designated spaces on each floor of the library, completing a sentence that begins with one of the syllables in "Geul.Ma.Ru. Opening. Ten. Year. Anniversary." In March, the contest will focus on witty and entertaining entries starting with "Geul." Outstanding submissions will be selected and displayed during the 10th anniversary celebration.
The district will also run the 'One Resident, One Book Club' project, a social reading campaign designed to foster communication, empathy, and improved quality of life among residents through shared reading experiences. Any Songpa resident interested in joining or forming a book club is eligible to apply. Before the project officially launches, the district will offer book club mentor training to residents to support the activation of book clubs.
For details and to apply for these programs, residents can visit the Songpa District Integrated Library website or contact Songpa Geulmaru Library by phone.
Seo Kang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, "Through the 10th anniversary celebration, we hope to expand the realm of individual reading into a social experience, creating new opportunities for neighbors to connect and empathize through books." He added, "I look forward to many residents participating in Songpa Geulmaru Library's 'One Resident, One Book Club Project,' discovering books across various fields, and experiencing positive changes in their lives."
Gangnam District to Host Humanities Concert: Experience Renoir Through Stories, Music, and Scents
'Sensualism: When Paintings Meet the Five Senses' to Be Held on the 27th at 7:00 PM in the District Office Lobby
Gangnam District (District Mayor Cho Seong-myeong) will host the March Humanities Concert, "Sensualism: When Paintings Meet the Five Senses," at 7:00 PM on March 27 in the lobby of the Gangnam District Office.
Centered around the theme "Renoir: Painting the Happiness of Everyday Life," this concert will feature guided commentary on representative works by French Impressionist painter Renoir, such as "The Walk," "Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette," and "Dance in the Country." The program will combine these art explanations with scents and live piano performances for a unique, multi-sensory experience.
The event will feature docent Jung Woo-cheol, who will add stories to the paintings; perfumer Noh In-ho, who will match scents to the artworks; and pianist Min Si-hoo, who will provide musical accompaniment.
Docent Jung Woo-cheol has hosted "EBS Class e: Docent Jung Woo-cheol's Art Theater" and provided commentary for major exhibitions including those of Henri Matisse and Joan Mir?. He is currently the commentator for the Andr? Brasilier special exhibition and is the author of "The Painters I Loved" and "Reading Time at the Art Museum."
Perfumer Noh In-ho, author of "The Art Museum of Scents," has provided commentary at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Pianist Min Si-hoo, a graduate of Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia Graduate School of Music, is actively working as a visiting professor at the International Arts University and as a performer.
This event is open to 150 local residents, with registration available on the Jeongdaun Library website. Even those who do not pre-register can attend, as the district office lobby is an open space. For more information, contact Jeongdaun Library (02-512-9326) or the Gangnam District Office's Department of Culture and Urban Affairs.
Upcoming humanities concert programs for the first half of the year include: Professor Yoo Hong-jun's "The Identity of Korean Art" on April 20, the musical "Pinocchio" on May 12, and a meeting with author Lee Geum-hee on June 9.
Cho Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam District, stated, "This year, we have prepared a variety of humanities concerts, including meetings with authors and performances. I hope Gangnam residents will enjoy these high-quality cultural events up close."
2023 Seoul Rose Festival to Feature a Variety of Contests
Community Participation Contests to Be Held in Conjunction with the 2023 Seoul Rose Festival
Contests Include 'Rose Market,' 'Rose Popup Garden,' 'Rose Item Contest,' and 'Rose Parade'
The Jungnang Cultural Foundation (Chairman Pyo Jae-soon) will hold a variety of contests in connection with the 2023 Seoul Rose Festival, which will take place from May 13 to 28.
First, the 'Rose Market' contest will select individuals and groups to operate product and experience booths featuring roses at the festival site. Selected participants will be given the opportunity to sell and operate their booths for three days during the main festival period, from May 19 to 21.
In addition, the 'Rose Popup Garden' design contest will invite participants to submit drawings or designs of their dream rose gardens, which will be displayed as popup gardens during the festival. Winning entries will be transformed into actual gardens following the judging process.
Furthermore, the 'Rose Item Contest' will encourage participants to develop official merchandise using the festival's official BI. Winners will have the opportunity to sell their goods during the festival and will receive a cash prize.
Finally, applications are open for individuals and groups wishing to participate in the 'Rose Parade,' which will colorfully decorate the festival grounds. Selected participants will march approximately 1.5 kilometers, starting from Rose Light Street, passing through the Rose Tunnel, and ending at the main event venue on May 19.
Detailed information on each contest is available on the Jungnang Cultural Foundation website or the Seoul Rose Festival website.
Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang District, commented, "With a variety of programs prepared for community participation, I hope Jungnang residents will become the protagonists of the festival and that everyone will enjoy it together."
Gangbuk District Launches 'Modern and Contemporary History Mystery Tour: Find the Missing Key'
Mission-Based Program with a Fictional Storyline Grounded in Historical Facts Along Sections 1 and 2 of the Bukhansan Dulle-gil Trail
Anyone with a Smartphone Can Participate; Cultural Gift Certificates Awarded to Those Who Complete the Mission
Gangbuk District (District Mayor Lee Soon-hee) will operate the "Modern and Contemporary History Mystery Tour: Find the Missing Key" program through November.
This program is an experiential activity where participants solve missions based on a fictional storyline grounded in historical facts. Using the mission sheet they obtain, participants follow clues and complete tasks step by step.
The starting point for the mystery tour is Solbat Neighborhood Park in Ui-dong. Once participants find the mission sheet (QR code) at the Solbat Forest Library in the park, the mission officially begins.
Participants must then choose between two missions: Course A, which involves uncovering the secret of the Joseon Independence Dormitory, and Course B, which involves searching for the Hague Secret Emissary Letter.
Course A follows Section 1 of the Bukhansan Dulle-gil Trail, starting at Solbat Park and heading to Bonghwanggak and the Ui-dong Meeting Square. Course B follows Section 2, passing the 4·19 Observatory and the Modern and Contemporary History Memorial Hall, and ending at the Lee Jun Martyrs' Cemetery.
Each course offers the advantage of allowing participants to experience history while walking the Bukhansan Dulle-gil Trail. The theme of Course A, "Joseon Independence Dormitory," is based on a painting hanging in the inner room of Bonghwanggak. Participants can view this artwork, which depicts national leader Son Byeong-hui discussing Joseon's independence-a figure who played a key role in sowing the seeds of the March 1st Movement.
Course B concludes at the Lee Jun Martyrs' Cemetery, where participants can reflect on the spirit of independence activists who fought passionately to restore national sovereignty as secret envoys to The Hague, challenging the Eulsa Treaty.
This program is open to anyone with a smartphone, with no advance registration required. For Course A, participants must arrive before 4:00 PM, when religious facilities close.
Participants who complete the mission will receive a mobile cultural gift certificate worth 5,000 won during the first week of the following month.
For more information, contact the Gangbuk District Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports.
Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk District, stated, "This mystery tour program was created using Gangbuk District's historical sites, which are treasures of modern and contemporary history. I hope many people will participate and experience the district's natural resources and historical landmarks."
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