Communicating with the World through Strings... Goryeong to Host 7th Goryeong World Hyeon Festival on the 24th

Artists from Four Countries Share One Stage

As autumn deepens, Goryeong is filled with the melodies of string instruments from around the world.

The 7th Goryeong World Hyeon Festival will be held on October 24 at the Ureuk Hall in Daegaya Munhwa Nuri. Hosted by North Gyeongsang Province and Goryeong County and organized by the Goryeong Cultural Center, this year’s festival is themed "Communicating with the World through Strings." String musicians from across the globe will come together on one stage to connect through music.

This year’s festival features world-renowned artists and creators from four countries: the United Kingdom, Austria, China, and the United States, along with the Goryeong County Gayageum Orchestra. Through unique performances that transcend tradition and modernity, these artists will showcase the universal language of music, overcoming barriers of nationality and language.

Notably, this year’s event is designed as an interactive festival where string instrument creators and fans from around the world can communicate and participate, creating an open stage that breaks down boundaries of generation and culture.

The festival will open with a performance by British bassist Charles Berthoud.

With an original style that combines a wide range of playing techniques and more than 3 million online followers, he actively tours across Europe, North America, South America, and Japan, presenting new possibilities for string music.

Next, Austrian guitarist Bernth Brodtrager will take the stage.

With over 2 million YouTube subscribers, he is a globally renowned speed guitarist. For this performance, he will present nine pieces, including his signature collaboration piece "Dopamine." The powerful sound created by these two masters is highly anticipated.

From China, Moyun is an innovative musician who combines fingerstyle guitar techniques with the traditional string instrument guzheng and is recognized as the founder of "fingerstyle guzheng." On this stage, she will present "Yi An Ju Shi" and three other pieces, offering a sound that fuses traditional Chinese music with contemporary sensibilities.

Joshua Messick from the United States is a world-class hammered dulcimer player and a champion of the American championship. With a broad repertoire that spans folk, classical, and world music, he delivers profound resonance and immersion. For this concert, he will perform five pieces, including "Autumn Rain," capturing the essence of the season.

Representing Korea, the Goryeong County Gayageum Orchestra will also take the stage.

Composed of nine gayageum players, four gayageum byeongchang (singing with gayageum) performers, and two percussionists, the ensemble will perform "Seogongcheol-ryu Gayageum Sanjo," showcasing the delicate and elegant melodies of traditional Korean music.

The finale of the concert will feature all participating artists together for the "Final Stage."

Composer Lee Dongwook’s piece "Strings of the Wind" will be performed, culminating in a grand finale created by artists from each country.

This piece expresses a journey following the resonance of "strings" carried by the wind, blending the sentiment of Gye-myeonjo Arirang, the hope of Goryeong Arirang, and Bonjo Arirang.

Shin Taeun, director of the Goryeong Cultural Center, stated, "This festival is not just an opportunity to appreciate string instruments from different countries, but a venue where the world can understand and connect through music. I hope that, based on Goryeong’s musical tradition, today’s creative artists will come together to create an open stage for communication that transcends generations, cultures, and borders."

Lee Namcheol, governor of Goryeong County, said, "It is very meaningful that artists from around the world are gathering in Goryeong, a city of world cultural heritage, to share the beauty of string music. I hope that Goryeong, the home of gayageum, will connect the world’s music through the strings of tradition, allowing different cultures and emotions to harmonize as one. Goryeong County will continue to communicate with the world through the melodies of the gayageum and develop as a cultural city where tradition and modernity coexist in harmony."