NOTICE

By Kim Eun-young, October 21, 2024, 10:42:23 (Updated: 15:28:48)

The 20th Busan International Choral Festival is set to showcase the true spirit of choral music, with 57 teams from 4 different countries participating in a series of competitions and celebratory events. 

The deepening autumn of Busan will be filled with the sound of harmonious voices as two major choral festivals take place just one week apart. The 2024 Busan International Choral Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary, will be held from October 23-26 at venues such as the BEXCO Auditorium, Busan Cultural Center’s Medium Hall, and the Haneul Theater of the Busan Cinema Center. Meanwhile, the 35th Busan Choral Festival, offering amateur choirs in Busan the opportunity to perform on diverse stages, will take place from October 29-31 at the Grand Hall of the Busan Cultural Center.

These two festivals will provide a unique opportunity to experience the vibrancy of choral music through both international and local performances. As Busan becomes a focal point for choral arts, the festivals will offer audiences a chance to enjoy a variety of vocal styles and showcase the city's growing role in the global choral community. This year's events promise to be an exciting and meaningful celebration of song, offering something for every music lover to enjoy.

20th Busan International Choral Festival

The 2024 Busan International Choral Festival marks its 20th anniversary, having started in 2005 to commemorate the APEC Summit in Busan. It is now considered the longest-running choral festival in South Korea. One of the biggest changes this year is the appointment of a new Artistic Director. After 19 years of leadership by Kim Kang-gyu, the former Artistic Director, the baton has been passed to Jeon Jin, the Artistic Director of the Naju City Choir.

Jeon Jin, the new Artistic Director, shared his excitement about the festival: "This year, for the first time in a long while, we have invited city choirs from Busan, Wonju, and Naju. The highlight of the 20th festival will be the opening performance, which we hope will be a special occasion for many to join us. To make this an even more public and accessible international choral festival, it will be held at the BEXCO Auditorium."

This year’s festival is set to provide a grand celebration of choral music, bringing together local and international choirs for an unforgettable experience.

Closing Concert with Awards Ceremony at the 20th Busan International Choral Festival

The closing concert, featuring the awards ceremony, will be held on October 26 at the Haneul Theater of the Busan Cinema Center. On this day, the top teams from each competition category will showcase their skills to determine the best choir of the festival. This year, the concert will be even more enriching with the addition of a festival choir concert. A major highlight will be the world premiere of Look at the Stars!, composed by South African composer Motshwane Pege, who won the composition competition.

Additionally, other special concerts will take place, including the Grand Concert on October 24 at the Busan Cultural Center’s Medium Hall, featuring the Busan, Wonju, and Naju City Choirs, and the Special Concert on October 25 at the Haneul Theater, where eight choirs from countries such as South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Latvia will perform. These concerts will offer a fusion of traditional and contemporary choral works from across the globe.

As a prelude to the main festival, the One Sound concert will be held on October 22 at the Haeundae Cultural Center’s Haeun Hall, featuring choirs from Latvia, Indonesia, and South Korea. On October 26, the festival will also include a Choral Parade at Busan Station, allowing citizens to enjoy the festival alongside the participating choirs.

Performance times are at 7:30 PM on weekdays and 5:00 PM on Saturday. All competition events are free to attend, while festival section performances require tickets available through Interpark.

35th Busan Choral Festival

The Busan Choral Festival, initiated in 1985 by the Busan City Choir (Artistic Director: Lee Gi-sun), aims to expand the choral community and share high-quality choral culture. It provides performance opportunities and venues for amateur choirs in the Busan area, making it a beloved event among choral enthusiasts.

Celebrating its 35th edition this year, the Busan Choral Festival is not a competition to determine rankings but a platform for artistic exchange, offering a space for emotional and cultural connections through choral music. Since 2022, the festival has raised its standards by introducing screenings for eligible groups. This year, 59 organizations applied, and only 33 were selected to perform. The festival, involving around 1,000 performers, will feature diverse harmonies through categories such as senior, women’s, men’s, and mixed choirs, showcasing a wide range of choral artistry.

On the first day, the 29th, 11 amateur choirs will perform, including the Gyeongnam Girls' High School Sujeong Choir (conductor Jo Ik-rae, manager Kim Ji-hyun) and Beomeosa Choir (conductor Moon Jeong-jae, manager Kim Ok-hee). One of the highlights of the day will be the Busan City Civil Servants Choir (conductor Kim Seong-bok, manager Kim Gwang-hoe), composed of 40 members in a mixed four-part arrangement. This choir is a strong team, having won the Grand Prize at the 2023 Civil Servants Music Competition.

On the 31st, 11 amateur choirs will perform, including the Gangseo Harmony Choir (conductor Lee Eun-jeong, manager Park Eung-su) and the Gangseo Myeongho Women's Choir (conductor Lim Jae-woo, manager Go Min-jeong). A standout performance will be by Seongsan Choir, which is composed of 47 members in a mixed four-part arrangement. This choir has an impressive track record, having won the Grand Prize at the 9th National Golden Age Choral Competition in 2022, Silver at the 24th Presidential National Choral Competition in 2022, Silver at the 1st Ulsan National Choral Competition in 2023, and Gold at the 11th National Golden Age Choral Competition in 2024.

Meanwhile, the final performance over the three days will be given by the Busan City Choir, closing the event and reaffirming the significance of unity through choral music in Busan. Performances will be held daily at 7 p.m., and all concerts are free of charge. The event is open to attendees aged 5 and older. Reservations can be made at 607-6000 (ARS option 1).