Seoul City Produces 1,408 Low-Income 'Music Prodigies'... 125 Become Global Talents

'Music Gifted' Education Project, 150 Participants Complete Online Ceremony This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 9th that its ‘Music Gifted’ program, which supports quality music education for low-income vulnerable elementary, middle, and high school students with musical talent and potential, has produced 1,408 trainees over the past 14 years since 2008.

Among them, 125 students have entered prestigious domestic and international art schools such as arts middle and high schools, Chicago College of Music, Salzburg University of Music, Berlin University of the Arts, and Tchaikovsky National Music Academy, growing into global talents. A total of 201 students have distinguished themselves by winning 343 awards in domestic and international competitions.

Of the 1,408 students produced by Seoul City over 14 years, 150 are talents nurtured through this year’s ‘Music Gifted’ program. Selected in April, they received various specialized education classes for about eight months, including theory, practical lessons, and arts convergence education.

Seoul City will hold online graduation ceremonies on the 11th and 18th through Konkuk University (100 students) and Sookmyung Women’s University (50 students), which were entrusted with the ‘Music Gifted’ education. The online graduation ceremonies will be held as a time to present the results learned through various classes and to conclude this year’s education. The events will include a video congratulatory speech by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, congratulatory performances, class result presentations, and certificate awarding.

The ‘Music Gifted Education Project’ was launched in 2008 during Mayor Oh’s tenure with the aim of becoming a stepping stone of hope for students dreaming of becoming musicians. The faculty, composed of renowned domestic and international music professors, provides professional music education.

The Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation supports students from 3rd grade in elementary school to 1st grade in high school. This year, about 100 students were selected and divided into general gifted and future gifted courses according to their level, receiving intensive music classes for eight months. In addition to major practical and creative classes, the program conducted core ‘masterclasses’ and ‘gifted concerts’ where students could receive lessons from active musicians.

The Sookmyung Women’s University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation has participated in the project since 2020 to discover future gifted talents in a balanced way by region. The education target was expanded from 1st grade in elementary school, implementing the ‘Low-Income Music Gifted Discovery and Education Project’ to provide early education for musically talented students with potential. Classes were conducted in small groups by grade, combining online and offline formats, including ▲music creativity classes ▲basic Korean traditional rhythm practical lessons ▲one-on-one instrumental practical lessons ▲arts convergence education ▲choral activities.

Meanwhile, Seoul City has also been running an education support project for low-income ‘Art Gifted’ students since 2011, producing about 2,333 trainees to date (1,408 in music and 925 in art).

Joo Yong-tae, head of Seoul City’s Cultural Headquarters, said, “Seoul City will continue to actively support talented and passionate students so that they can use their learning at the Music Gifted Education Center as a stepping stone to grow into happy musicians and artists who brighten the world.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.