Expansion of Songpa-gu's 'Orchestra Visiting Schools' Program

Classical Music Presented at 8 Schools This Year... Featuring the K Philharmonic Orchestra
Accessible Classical Music with Added Commentary
Youth Say, "Our First Orchestra Experience Gave Us Unforgettable Emotion"

“It was my first time experiencing an orchestra performance, so I had high expectations, and I realized how important the first experience is. It was truly a wonderful experience!”, “I liked that I could watch the performance at school without having to set aside extra time. The music will stay in my mind for a long time.”

On the 11th, the auditorium of Yeongpa Girls' High School in Songpa-gu transformed into an orchestra concert hall. About 30 professional musicians met with students and shared a joyful time of communication through music as part of the ‘Orchestra Visiting Schools’ project organized by Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok).

The ‘Orchestra Visiting Schools’ project has been ongoing for two years by the district. It provides youth with cultural and artistic experiences that are usually hard to access, broadening their tastes and helping them soothe their tired bodies and minds by taking a break from studies, even if only for a short time.

The special opportunity to experience difficult classical music in an easy and enjoyable way has received enthusiastic responses from the education field.

Accordingly, the district expanded the project this year. The number of schools visited increased from seven to eight, and together with the Songpa-gu Philharmonic Orchestra, the K-Philharmonic Orchestra was invited to present a variety of performances.

On this day, the K-Philharmonic Orchestra visited Yeongpa Girls' High School and met with about 600 first- and second-year students. They performed various classical pieces such as Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons,' Pablo de Sarasate's 'Zigeunerweisen,' and Johann Strauss's 'Pizzicato Polka' through string ensemble, delivering both emotion and fun.

Before and after the performance, the conductor provided witty explanations tailored to the students' level, helping them better understand the concert.

The ‘Songpa-gu Orchestra Visiting Schools’ project will visit Wirye Sol Middle School, Gawon Middle School, Munhyeon Middle School, Oju Middle School, and Boin Middle School until July 22, sharing the joy of classical music with about 2,500 students.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Music encountered during adolescence determines lifelong tastes and genre preferences,” and added, “Songpa-gu will continue to actively support youth in the region to enrich their lives through diverse artistic experiences.”

Meanwhile, the newly participating K-Philharmonic Orchestra (Director Kim Ji-hyang) was founded in 2018 and is a private symphony orchestra based in Seoul. It discovers and nurtures new musicians and leads various cultural exchanges and social contribution activities both domestically and internationally.