KACF is co-sponsoring a Sunday afternoon concert with our friends at ECC. The concert will feature the group “Saawee”, an eclectic trio of musicians with firm background in Korean musical tradition but equally versed in experimental and improvisational collaboration. Special guest Do Yeon Kim, the Gayageum virtuoso, will also join.
Earlier this year, NYTimes gathered five young immigrant artists as panelists for a forum titled "Immigrant Artists and the American Dream”. This is what Sita, who is to play violin in the concert, as one of the panelists had to say:
“What people don’t always recognize is that we are all benefiting from the rich cultural diversity. Behind every culture is the influence of our neighboring cultures and on a broader spectrum every culture commonly carries the most humanistic side of us. As a musician, it is my duty to invite all musicians to come together and create art that’s ground-building and celebrates culture. Because, when all else collides, music unites. Instruments, for example, reflect that. String and percussion instruments show that human side of us: our common thread and our heartbeat.”
Percussionist and Performance artist Jihye Kim has BA and first MA in Korean traditional percussion at Korean National University of Arts and MA in ethnomusicology from University of London, UK. She was awarded the Grand Prize at the KBS Korean Traditional Music Award as a member of “Ensemble Sinawi” group in 2012. She is currently a member of the London-based band “Urban Sound” and the group “Saawee”.
Percussionist and Dancer Insoo Park has a PHD in literature from Korea University, MS in Korean traditional mask dance from the Korea National Academy of Arts, as well as being the Bongsan Mask Dancer (Korean national intangible cultural Asset No. 17). He collaborated with the world renowned percussionist Duksoo Kim as a mask dance soloist. He has also led the creative mask dance company, Dodam Dodam incorporating traditional dance language and contemporary philosophy into the artistic mix.
Free admission. Snacks and beverages will be served after the concert for conversing among the artists and guests.