Mokpo City Choir to Hold Special Performance for 40th Anniversary and 80th Liberation Anniversary

'A Night Counting Stars, Mokpo's Shining Voices'
Large-Scale Collaborative Stage to Be Presented on August 14

Poster for the 40th Anniversary of the Mokpo City Choir Foundation and the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Special Performance. Provided by Mokpo City

The Mokpo City Choir, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will present a special performance commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's Liberation.

On July 28, the city of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, announced that it will hold the performance "A Night Counting Stars, Mokpo's Shining Voices" at 7:30 p.m. on August 14 at the Grand Theater of the Mokpo Citizens' Culture and Sports Center.

This event is more than a simple concert; it is a large-scale production that captures both the historical significance of Liberation and the 40-year journey of the Mokpo City Choir in the form of a musical epic. It consists of two parts: Part 1, "80 Years of Liberation, Overture of Hope," and Part 2, "40 Years Since Founding, Choral Epic."

Part 1 features a newly arranged choral performance of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1" with Korean lyrics, followed by grand classical repertoire such as "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" from Verdi's opera Nabucco and Bruckner's "Te Deum."

Notably, the "Te Deum" stage will feature Mokpo City Choir principal members Lee Yunhee (soprano), Kim Gwansik (tenor), Hwang Nankyeong (alto), and Kim Jiyoung (bass) as soloists, adding symbolic meaning to the 40th anniversary.

Part 2 presents an original choral epic inspired by the poetic world of poet Yun Dongju, with tenor Yun Jihwan playing the role of the young Yun Dongju, vividly expressing the poet's inner world. In particular, the choir will premiere the original song "The Path We Walked Together, Shining Voices," for which they wrote the lyrics themselves, musically portraying the journey of the past 40 years and their vision for the future.

This performance is a large-scale collaborative stage featuring the Mokpo City Choir, Mokpo City Symphony Orchestra, Dance Company, Children's Choir, and even the Gwangyang City Choir, symbolizing artistic solidarity and unity that goes beyond regional boundaries. The production is directed by Bae Gangwon, artistic director of the Mokpo City Dance Company, who enhanced the artistic quality of the performance through an organic combination of music, dance, and stage art. Admission is free for all seats, and reservations can be made through Ticket Link.

A city official stated, "This performance is a choral epic that reflects on the meaning of history and delivers a message of hope for the future. It will be a deeply moving stage not only for citizens but also for classical music lovers," and urged for much interest.