Violist Choi Eun-sik to Perform on Kumho Art Hall's 'Genealogy of Music' Stage

April 13, Kumho Art Hall Yonsei
Illya Rashkovsky Collaboration

The Kumho Cultural Foundation announced on the 31st that the first performance in this year's 'Genealogy of Music' series will feature violist Choi Eun-sik on April 13 at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

Violist Choi Eun-sik.
[Photo by Kumho Cultural Foundation]

The 'Genealogy of Music' series is a program that highlights the eternal lineage of musical philosophy connecting generations. It focuses on the musical philosophy of outstanding performers who also serve as educators nurturing future musicians, leading the Korean classical music scene. Last year, the series showcased performances by violinist Lee Kyung-sun, cellist Lee Kang-ho, violist Kim Sang-jin, and pianist Choi Hee-yeon.

This year's first 'Genealogy of Music' protagonist is violist Choi Eun-sik. While attending Seoul Arts High School, Choi was selected by Heichiro Oyama, principal violist of the LA Philharmonic, and went to the United States to study at the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory. As a founding member of the Borromeo String Quartet, he won the New York Young Concert Artists Auditions and also won the Evian Competition in France. Selected as one of the seven musicians who illuminated Korea from 1997 to 2001, he currently serves as the artistic director of the Vivace Festival and the Jeonju Chamber Music Festival. After serving as a professor at the New England Conservatory and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he is currently a professor at Seoul National University College of Music.

On this stage, Choi Eun-sik will perform Brahms' Viola Sonata No. 2, Hindemith's Viola Sonata in F major, and Bloch's Suite. Sometimes emitting a subtle and calm light, sometimes radiating a majestic beam, he unfolds the diverse colors that a single viola can embrace on stage. This performance will be accompanied by pianist Ilya Rashkovsky.

The second half of this year's 'Genealogy of Music' series will be graced on September 14 by cellist Yang Sung-won and violinist Sawa Kazuki, representing Korea and Japan respectively.

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