Invisible bonds: profiles of participating performance artists

박선희 (Sunnee Park, Dance)
suwnwe@hotmail.com

Sunnee ParkSunnee Park, the President of the Korean Artists Association UK is a Dancer. She started her training in Korean traditional dance at 7, progressing to become a member of the Korean classical dancing troupe Little Angels that performed worldwide. While studying at Sunhwa Art School, she joined the Korean Universal Ballet Company. On completion of an MA in Dance and Music and a PhD in Korean Shamanistic Trance at Ochanomizu University in Tokyo, she practiced as a dance instructor in Tokyo for ten years, performing throughout Japan during this time. She has lectured on Shamanism throughout the world and has published academic papers on Shamanistic Trance practices. She is currently studying an MA in Dance Movement Therapy at Roehampton University, as well as teaching and performing Korean dance in the UK.

정지은 (Ji Eun Jung, Kayagum)
www.kaya-music.co.uk • mari1339@hotmail.com

Ji-eun JungJi Eun Jung is a professional player of the traditional Korean stringed instrument, the Kayagum. She is an initiator of an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Korea No.23, Sanjo in the style of Jook Pa Kim. She has a BA in Korean Traditional Music (Ewha Womans University) and MA in Asian Music (Dong Gook University). She taught Kayagum at primary schools in Korea, and is currently teaching at the Kingston Korean School. She has performed publically on numerous occasions in the UK and abroad. As Director of the KAYA Trio her repertoire extends to include modern and Western pieces performed with other instruments.

최증현 (Jeung Hyun Choi, Korean Traditional Percussion)
junghyun40@hanmail.net

Jeung Hyun ChoiJeung Hyun Choi is a Korean traditional percussion player and currently working as managing director of DULSORI, the Korean traditional Music World Group. She has taught Korean traditional percussion and traditional songs for over 20 years. She has been working as a professional instructor for Pung-mul teachers since 2001. She has led many international workshops in Korea and abroad.

• Founding Member of DULSORI Korea, 1984
• Board Member of DULSORY Korea, 1998 to present
• Training Director of ‘TAONORI’, 2004
• Awarded the 2nd prize from National Kukak Competition, Gyeongju, Korea, 1993
• Awarded the 2nd prize from Sa-mul-nol-yi Competition, Korea, 1993

Selected performances
• Closing ceremony of the 8th An-seong Juk-san International Arts Festival, Korea, 2002
• International Workshop for Youth Association for the closing event, Korea, 2001
• Traditional Game Workshop at the 7th An-seong Juk-san International Arts Festival, Korea, 2001
• Workshops for Overseas Korean Youth in Japan, 2002-4
• ‘Finding the lost history, Da-mul’, Tour in China, 1995

Dong Yoon Hwang황동윤 (Dong Yoon Hwang, Daegum)
netys@korea.com

Dong Yoon Hwang studied the Korean bamboo flute known as ‘Daegum’ at Dong-Guk University. He is a member of the ‘Daegum Sanjo Preservation Society, Kim Dong Jin’. He has performed frequently in London, and in two consecutive years at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Liverpool Fire-fighters Game. He has also toured in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and France.

최서영 (Seo Young Choi, Kayagum Byung Chang)
sinyoo97@hotmail.com

Seo Young ChoiSeo Young Choi is a professional Kayagum and Kayagum byung chang (Kayagum with singing) player. She is a national initiator of Korea’s Important Cultural Asset, Sanjo in the style of Sukseon An. She majored in Korean Traditional Music at Jeonnam College and was awarded the prizes from Jeonjudesaseup, Tangum and Goryung Kayagum competition. She has taught Kayagum byung chang at a private Korean traditional music institution and primary and secondary schools for fourteen years.

전성민 (Sung Min Jeon, Guitar) – guest artist

Sung Min JeonSung Min Jeon is a Korean guitarist and folk singer songwriter. He mainly plays a steel string acoustic guitar with a harmonica. He started playing the guitar when he was 13. His passion for music was inspired by his family. His father plays various instruments and is also a great singer, while his mother used to run a record shop. His uncle is the leader of the greatest Korean folk duo, Sunflower. Since 2005 Sung Min has been living and performing in the UK.

이세호 (Se Ho Lee, Piano) – guest artist
chupiano@hanmail.net

Se Ho Lee studied Piano (BMus, summa cum laude) at the Chugye University for the Arts and Opera Coach (Artistic Diploma, summa cum laude) at the Korea National University of Arts in Seoul, Korea. He earned a MMus with distinction in Piano Accompaniment at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Glasgow, UK and recently completed a PGDIP in Opera Repetiteur at the Alexander Gibson opera school of the RSAMD. He won numerous music competitions, including the first place in the 2008 Piano Accompaniment Competition at the RSAMD, the audience’ prize and special prize in the Osaka International Competition in Japan and the second prize (without the first prize) in the Alberta Conservatory Competition in Canada. As a soloist as well as an accompanist Se Ho Lee has performed on numerous occasions, including St. James Palace RSAMD concert (in the presence of Prince of Wales), “Garibaldi Concerto” by the invitation of the Italian Institute of Culture in Scotland, Jacqueline du Pré Hall in Oxford, Alexander Gibbson Opera Studio, and Academy Concert Hall in Glasgow. He is much in demand as an accompanist and has performed with many choirs, singers and instrumentalists not only in Korea and UK, but also in Japan, Australia and many countries in Europe. In September 2010 he will start the Pianist for Dance course at the RSAMD, supported with a full scholarship.

김보혜 (Bohae Kim, Mezzo Soprano) – guest artist

Bohae KimBorn in South Korea, mezzo-soprano Bohae Kim studied music at Sang-Myung University in Seoul before joining the Korean National Opera Choir in 2002 where she worked for five years as a full time member. She came to Scotland to study Master of Music (Opera) at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) with Patricia Hay. She was highly commended in the Ye Cronies Opera Competition 2008. In the RSAMD’s production of opera scenes, Bohae sang the roles of Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte), Mercedes (Carmen), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) and 2nd Norn (Gotterdammerung). Bohae Kim played the role of Mere Marie in March 2008 in the RSAMD’s production of Les Dialogues des Carmelites, She has also appeared in Prokofiev’s The Love of Three Oranges (Theatre Royal, Glasgow and Edinburgh Festival Theatre) in January 2009. Her concert engagements include Clonter Opera Gala in 2007, Opera Gala with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in May 2008, Recital for opera arias in September 2008, Mozart Coronation Mass, Vivaldi Gloria in March 2010, Opera gala concert in April 2010 and the recital for Korean songs in May 2010. Her most recent opera role was The Composer in R. Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos in March 2009. In October 2009, she completed Master of Opera at the RSAMD where she had been supported with a full scholarship. In October Bohae Kim will be performing in the 2010 Summer Season La bohème and Euridice with the British Youth Opera.