Maestro Jooyong Ahn conducts a masterclass
High school students and faculty from Kangnung, Korea, will present a concert entitled “An Evening of Western and Korean Music” on September 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall of the UTC Fine Arts Center, located at the corner of Palmetto and Vine Streets. The concert is presented free of charge and is open to the general public.
Highlights among the program include a Korean folk duet and Womens’ Chorus, solos for piano and violin, a piano trio, an oboe quartet, duo pianos, a Gayageum solo (a zither-like 12-string instrument), and an ensemble of Korean folk percussion.
The students who will perform are from the Kangwon Arts High School located in one of Chattanooga’s sister cities. They are taking masterclasses with UTC music professors. Their school is a state government funded, nationally recognized institution of Fine Arts specializing in music, visual art and dance.
Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai, UC Foundation Associate Professor of Music and Director of Piano Studies at UTC, is the product of a similar school. She says the students focus most of their time on their arts, not really emphasizing math or science or other subjects.
“The students are intended to move toward careers in the arts and advanced training after finishing the high school. Students from all over Korea go through a stringent audition and selection process to earn a place at the school and being selected is a real honor,” Tsai said.
Tsai and Ahn take questions
The students met UTC professors Tsai and Maestro Jooyong Ahn in the summer of 2007 when they visited the school and gave master classes. The students enjoyed working with Tsai and Ahn, and chose to raise their own funds to come for a visit to the UTC Campus for more masterclasses and to explore UTC as a college option. The 35 students whose specialties include piano, violin, voice, and Korean folk instruments and song are attending classes at UTC through September 15.
For further information contact the UTC Music Dept. Office, 423-425-4601.
