Life is Like Music: The 4th Concert of the Gwangju Citizen Choir
By Bianca Hill
In my time at the Gwangju International Center (GIC), I have spent long stretches listening to the GIC Citizen Choir practice together. Often as I shelve books, the sound of singing will filter upstairs, and I find myself stopping to just take it in for a while. As it turns out, the choir had been practicing for their fourth concert.
On the evening of the October 25, I made my way to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Student Education and Culture Center. When I arrived, there were many people standing around, reading programs, and chatting about the upcoming performance. The doors to the auditorium opened at 7:00 p.m. sharp. More and more people came and soon many seats were filled. At 7:30, the lights dimmed and the concert began.
The MC of the evening was Diary from Senegal. Dressed in lovely, glittering gowns and sharp, dapper suits, the choir was a picture of elegance and sophistication. The choir was accompanied by Jang Hyo-jung on piano and expertly led by Jin Seong-in. Their songs ranged from English poems such as “Life” by Charlotte Brontë and “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Folliott S. Pierpoint, to a medley from The Sound of Music, and finally to Korean poems such as “The Flowing Days” by Gwon Seon-ok and “Song of the Wind” by Kim Jeong-uk. There was also a special guest appearance partway through the concert. Lee Minseo, a graduate of the Department of Music at Chonnam University, sang “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from Puccini’s opera La Rondine, followed by a stunning rendition of “Miryang Arirang” (밀양 아리랑). I am certain I saw a few people wiping away a tear here and there throughout the evening.
The concert ended with a special song: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon. This was such a timeless, beautiful way to end the concert as the lyrics convey a feeling of comfort and connection. To me, music is one of the purest forms of connection, so this felt like a very profound way to close what was such a peaceful experience. I certainly look forward to seeing what the GIC Citizen Choir has in store next.
The Author
Bianca Hill, a South African native, has been living in Gwangju since March. She has a background in English literature, psychology, and library studies. When she is not teaching English, she is learning Korean and hoarding second- hand books.
Cover Photograph by Bianca Hill.