Gyeonggi DMZ OPEN International Music Festival Opens in September... Ticket Reservations Available

A Global Gathering for Peace Through Music
From September 26 to 30 at Goyang Aram Nuri Aram Concert Hall
Featuring KBS Symphony Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra, and More

The "2025 DMZ OPEN International Music Festival," held as part of the comprehensive arts festival "2025 DMZ OPEN Festival" centered around the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in Gyeonggi Province, will take place from September 26 to 30 at the Aram Concert Hall in Goyang Aram Nuri.

2025 DMZ OPEN International Music Festival Poster. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

The "2025 DMZ OPEN International Music Festival" is more than just a series of performances; it is an artistic response to the questions posed by the DMZ, and a gathering where musicians from around the world come together to imagine a peaceful tomorrow. Under the slogan "Symphony for Tomorrow," the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Hankyung Arte Philharmonic, and the Belgian National Orchestra will take the stage in turn, delivering messages of peace through beautiful melodies. From September 19 to 21, a series of pre-concerts will be held at various locations in northern Gyeonggi Province, where our hopes for peace remain paused, such as the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park in Gimpo, which overlooks the armistice line.

The opening performance on the 26th will feature the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra that best represents Gyeonggi Province. Pianist and conductor Kim Sunwook of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 "Choral." Beethoven’s "Choral," which conveys the possibility of human harmony and peace, directly aligns with the values pursued by the DMZ OPEN International Music Festival. Soprano Hwang Sumi, mezzo-soprano Kim Jungmi, tenor Lee Myunghyun, and baritone Yang Junmo will join the performance, while cellist Han Jaemin will perform Tchaikovsky’s "Variations on a Rococo Theme" with the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra and Kim Sunwook.

On the second day, the 27th, the KBS Symphony Orchestra, representing South Korea, will lead the festival and further amplify the message of peace. The KBS Symphony Orchestra will present a unique repertoire focused on modern and contemporary American music. The program begins with Bernstein’s "Candide Overture," followed by John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto (soloist: Jess Gillam), and concludes with the fourth movement of Copland’s Symphony No. 3. The stage will be led by conductor Gemma New, a New Zealand native who is active mainly in the United States. Pianist Sunyul, winner of the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, will also perform Rachmaninoff’s "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini," adding to the anticipation.

On the third day, the 28th, the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic will present a concert featuring familiar film scores by John Williams, such as "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter," making the program accessible even to classical music newcomers. The performance will be conducted by Ji Jungbae, who was selected as one of the "10 Masters of the Future" by the German Music Association. Hyunmin Song, editor-in-chief of the classical music magazine "Gakseok," will provide commentary, delivering a message of hope and enriching the concert experience.

KBS Symphony Orchestra. Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province

The grand finale of the festival on the 30th will be performed by the Belgian National Orchestra. Since its founding in 1936, the Belgian National Orchestra has represented Belgium and is well-known as the official accompanist for the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition. Under the baton of Hangyeol Yoon, pianist Hyesun Baek will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" in the first part, a work born in wartime but imbued with both grandeur and tranquility, symbolizing the pursuit of peace. In the second part, Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 will serve as a majestic finale.

Meanwhile, prior to the main festival, pre-concerts for the International Music Festival will be held from September 19 to 21 at symbolic locations near the DMZ, open to the public free of charge.

The first pre-concert on September 19 is scheduled to take place at the Camp Greaves Ammunition Depot in Paju (subject to change due to venue conditions), where the Ali? Quartet will fill a space marked by the scars of past wars with music, performing string quartets by Schubert and Dvo??k.

The pre-concerts at the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park in Gimpo will feature the Lepore Quartet performing works by Britten and Smetana on the 20th, followed by a relay performance by Maria Kim Band, pianists An Jongdo and Kim Junhyeong, and the Philharmonic String Quintet Berlin on the 21st. Notably, this ensemble, founded in 2007 and including members from the Berlin Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO), features musicians who experienced the era of Germany’s division, making their performance at the armistice line especially meaningful.

The "DMZ OPEN International Music Festival" is expected to deliver a moving, wordless message of comfort through its Symphony for Tomorrow, resonating beyond ideologies and ideals in a space where time has stood still for 70 years due to the scars of war, in the Demilitarized Zone created by an unfinished conflict.

Tickets for the performances can be reserved through the Goyang Aram Nuri website and NOL Ticket. For the opening and regular performances, R seats are 30,000 won, S seats are 20,000 won, and A seats are 10,000 won. For the closing performance, R seats are 50,000 won, S seats are 30,000 won, and A seats are 20,000 won. A 50% discount is available for national merit recipients, people with disabilities, students, and groups of four or more. For further details, please refer to the Gyeonggi Province DMZ OPEN Festival website.

Woo Byungbae, Director of Peace and Cooperation at Gyeonggi Province, said, "We hope that through the International Music Festival, which conveys the message of peace embodied by the DMZ through music, we can reflect on the meaning of the DMZ and share the value of peace together. We ask for the active interest and participation of our residents."

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