The Korean National Symphony Orchestra (KNSO) has selected 42 domestic and foreign up-and-coming classical music artists for its annual International Orchestra Academy.
The KNSO on June 24 said 42 artists were selected for the academy, with education and mentoring programs underway.
Twenty-nine of the participants are from abroad including France, the U.S., Russia and Hungary. They will stay in Korea for 19 days and receive training to foster their orchestral performing skills.
The 42 artists will hold the joint performance "Colorful." Two stages -- one for orchestral music and the other for chamber music -- will allow them to boost their ensemble skills.
Clarinetist Kim Han on July 2 will perform Mozart's clarinet concerto and Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5 under the direction of conductor Chung Chi-yong at the concert hall of Seoul Arts Center in the city's Seocho-gu District.
The program also has an educational curriculum to raise artistic understanding among domestic and foreign musicians, and KNSO members will provide individual mentoring. Conductor Chung, professor Nam Mee-ae from Eastern Michigan University, pianist Moon Jung-jae and clarinetist Kim will give lectures.
To get more familiar with Korean culture, foreign participants will also receive opportunities to watch traditional Korean performing arts, try Korean cuisine and tour Seoul.
The KNSO academy is an education program that fosters professional orchestra performers under the motto "Growth and Exchange."
Participants are graduates or students of music colleges age 34 or younger and specialize in string (e.g., violin, viola, cello or double bass) or wind instruments (e.g., flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn trumpet or trombone).
This year's academy saw 109 applicants from 29 countries.
