The Korea Gugak Orchestra Festival Opens on October 15

10 Groups Perform at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Until October 26

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will hold the 2024 'Korea Gugak Orchestra Festival' from October 15 to 26 at the Sejong Center M Theater.

The 'Korea Gugak Orchestra Festival' was launched last year to open a new chapter in the revival of gugak (traditional Korean music). Now in its second year, this year's festival promises to be an even richer celebration.

The festival organizing committee has selected nine groups, and a special performance by the newly established Pyeongtaek City Gugak Orchestra this year, making a total of 10 national and public gugak orchestras performing on stage.

The KBS Gugak Orchestra, which has the second-longest history among domestic gugak orchestras, will open the festival on October 15. Following that, the newly founded Pyeongtaek City Gugak Orchestra, established in July this year, will present a special performance on October 16. The Pyeongtaek City Gugak Orchestra is the first newly established gugak orchestra in over 20 years since the Seongnam City Gugak Orchestra.

Performances will continue with the Jeonbuk Provincial Gugak Orchestra (October 17), National Gugak Center Creative Orchestra (October 18), Cheonan Chungnam Gugak Orchestra (October 19), Gangwon Provincial Gugak Orchestra (October 22), Daegu City Gugak Orchestra (October 23), Yeongdong Nangye Gugak Orchestra (October 24), and Busan City Gugak Orchestra (October 25). The festival will conclude on October 26 with the Seoul City Gugak Orchestra, the oldest gugak orchestra in Korea celebrating its 60th anniversary next year.

Outstanding soloists demonstrating exceptional musical skills will join the festival. Gugak performers such as Lee Hee-moon (folk song), Kim Junsu (pansori), Jung Yoon-hyung (pansori), Kim Sang-yeon (taepyeongso), Min Young-chi (janggu), and Uri Sori Baraji will perform alongside East Asian guest artists including Nakai Tomoya (koto, Japan), Miki Minoru (koto, Japan), Sui Yuan (erhu, China), and Cao Ho Nga (dan tranh, Vietnam). Additionally, pianist Yang Bang-ean, known for his fresh interpretations of traditional music, will perform, along with Western music-based collaborators who have explored diverse collaborations with gugak, including Lee Ye-rin (flute), Shin Eun-hye (soprano), Park Sung-kyu (tenor), Park Jong-sung (harmonica), Hong Jin-ho (cello), and Park Hyun-soo (crossover singer).

Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, all performances of the 'Korea Gugak Orchestra Festival' can be enjoyed for 10,000 KRW each. Discount packages are available for enthusiasts, allowing attendance at 3, 5, or all 10 performances. Tickets can be purchased through the Sejong Center website, Interpark, Kakao Entertainment, Yes24, Ticketlink, and Clip Service.