"A Great Miracle from Small Schools"... Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra Wins Top Prize at National Competition

A Moving Harmony Resonates Nationwide
The Inspiring Journey of 78 Students in the Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra

The Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra, formed through the collaboration of two small elementary schools in Yeosu, delivered a moving harmony by winning the top prize at a nationwide competition.

The Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra announced on August 20 that it had been awarded the top prize in the regional category at the 8th Korea Student Orchestra Festival, held on August 14 at the Hamyang Culture and Arts Center in Gyeongnam.

Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra won the top prize in the regional category at the 8th Korea Student Orchestra Festival. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

More than 70 ensembles from across the country participated in this competition, and this marks the first time that a team from the Jeonnam region has received the top prize in this category. The remarkable achievement of this newly established orchestra, which has not even celebrated its first anniversary, has drawn significant attention from both the local community and the education sector.

The Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra is comprised of 78 members, including 73 current students and 5 graduates from Yeosu Buk Elementary School and Yeocheon Elementary School. Many of the members were beginners who had only just started learning their instruments, and each school was facing challenges in even maintaining an orchestra on its own.

Yeosu Buk Elementary School had proven its capabilities by being the only team from the Honam region to advance to the finals at the 2023 Student Arts Club Festival hosted by the Ministry of Education. However, due to a declining school-age population, the number of members fell short of 20. Similarly, Yeocheon Elementary School had only 28 members, most of whom were picking up an instrument for the first time, as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

Despite these difficult circumstances, the instructors at both schools did not give up. Teachers Yoo Jonghun (Yeosu Buk Elementary) and Beom Junyoung (Yeocheon Elementary) decided to join forces, believing that "together, we can achieve this." In April, they presented their first joint performance at the Jeonnam Student Orchestra Festival.

Afterward, they officially launched the orchestra under the name "Yeosu Youth Wind Orchestra" and continued their activities. As a result, in their first year since founding, they achieved the significant accomplishment of winning the top national prize.

Practice sessions were held by section every Saturday at Yeocheon Elementary, and full rehearsals took place at Yeosu Buk Elementary ahead of performances. The rehearsal venues alternated between the two schools, and the two teachers transported the students' instruments themselves by car to provide instruction. Parents also offered strong support, helping their children commute every weekend.

Director Bae Jeongmi stated, "I am proud that the students achieved such great results through their collective efforts," and expressed gratitude to teachers Beom Junyoung and Yoo Jonghun, as well as to the parents for their dedication.

Teachers Yoo Jonghun and Beom Junyoung commented, "This achievement is the result of the hard work and passion of teachers, students, and parents alike." They also noted, "Financial support from the Provincial Office of Education, the instrument bank project, and educational expense support from the Yeosu Office of Education were all of great help."

This award carries a significance beyond simply winning a gold medal at a national competition. It is seen as an example of overcoming the limitations of the educational field through the passion of teachers, parents, and students, and is being recognized as a new model for student arts education in Jeonnam.

Meanwhile, the 8th Korea Student Orchestra Festival was held from August 11 to 16 at the Grand Performance Hall of the Hamyang Culture and Arts Center in Gyeongnam, with more than 70 teams-including elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as youth and general regional groups-participating in a spirited competition.