15th Anniversary Arko Korean Contemporary Music Festival, Academic Conference 'Today, Again, Reflection' Held

Historical Development and Evaluation, Review of Korean and Western Music Styles, and Thematic Presentation

The Korea Arts & Culture Education Service and the Korea Creative Music Festival Promotion Committee announced on the 29th that they will hold an academic conference under the theme "Today, Again, Reflection" to celebrate the 15th anniversary of ARKO (ARKO) Korea Creative Music Festival.

Arko Korean Creative Music Festival 15th Anniversary Academic Conference 'Today, Again, Reflection' Poster. [Photo by Korea Arts Council]

The Korea Creative Music Festival (Achangje) is Korea's representative creative orchestral festival promoted by the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service and the Korea Creative Music Festival Promotion Committee. Since its inception in 2007, it has presented 171 orchestral works by 125 composers through open calls for compositions.

The academic conference will be held on September 2nd at 10 a.m. in the multipurpose hall of the Artist’s House in Daehangno, Seoul. It will review the 15-year history and achievements of Achangje, and theorists, composers, performers, and critics from both traditional Korean and Western classical music fields will come together to discuss the future prospects of Achangje.

Chairman Lee Geonyong of the Promotion Committee will deliver the keynote speech. The first topic, "The Historical Development and Evaluation of Achangje over 15 Years," will be chaired by Professor Lee Dongyeon of Korea National University of Arts. Ji-Young Kang, a full-time researcher and lecturer at Hanyang University, will present on "A Brief Study on the Historical Development and Role of Achangje’s Western Classical Music Section," and music critic Yoon Junggang will present on "The Historical Development and Evaluation of Achangje’s Korean Traditional Music Section." Minhee Lee, a lecturer at Chugye University for the Arts and Chungnam National University, and Yejin Lee, a lecturer at Seoul National University and Korea National University of Arts, will provide commentary.

The second topic, "Stylistic Review of Achangje’s Korean Traditional and Western Orchestral Works," will be chaired by Professor Jeong Kyungyoung of Hanyang University. Hyungju Ji, a full-time researcher and lecturer at Yonsei University, will present on "Stylistic Review of Achangje’s Western Orchestral Music: Interculturality, Programmatic Elements, and Mimesis," and Shinhyang Yoon, an associate member of the Humboldt University Center for Convergent Gender Studies, will present on the Korean traditional music section titled "The Fork in the Road of Creative Orchestral Music: Where to Go?" Aekyung Choi, a lecturer at Korea National University of Arts and Sookmyung Women’s University, and Yesong Ra, an adjunct professor at Korea National University of Arts, will provide commentary.

Two panel discussions will also be held. Each discussion will involve six panelists exchanging diverse opinions about Achangje. "Panel Discussion 1," moderated by Professor Jeon Jiyoung of Korea National University of Arts, will include composer Kim Dongmyeong, Kim Seongguk, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Korean Traditional Orchestra, Kim Insu, member of the National Gugak Orchestra, music critic Song Juho, Won Il, artistic director of the Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra, and Jeong Heon, chief conductor of the Mokpo City Symphony Orchestra. "Panel Discussion 2," moderated by Professor Kim Heeseon of Kookmin University, will feature composer Park Seongmi, artistic director Yoo Eunseon of the National Changgeuk Company, Professor Won Youngseok of Ewha Womans University, Professor Lee Gwisook of Korea National University of Arts, Professor Choi Woojung of Seoul National University, and Hong Su-eun, member of the Daejeon City Symphony Orchestra.

The conference will conclude with a comprehensive discussion chaired by So-Young Lee, director of the Myongji Hospital Arts Healing Center.

Lee Geonyong, chairman of the Achangje Promotion Committee, said, "This academic conference is a meaningful opportunity to assess whether Achangje has fulfilled the roles entrusted to it so far," adding, "I hope this event, which involves not only musicologists and composers but also conductors and performers, will be a mutually beneficial time for everyone."

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