Sing a Song, Sing Along: Introducing the GIC Citizen Choir

Written by Wilson Melbostad
Photographs courtesy of Gwangju International Center

Nothing says community building like getting together with fellow townsfolk and singing in unison. Such is the case with one of the newest additions to the line of programming within the Gwangju International Center: the GIC Citizen’s Choir. I sat down with the manager of the choir and head organizer of the GIC’s May Concert, Lee Jeongmin, to learn more.

Wilson Melbostad (WM): Could you please tell us about your role within the GIC as well as the GIC Citizen’s Choir?
Lee Jeongmin (LJ): I have been in charge of the May Concert since last year. My roles for the concert include performing administrative duties, promoting the concert, coordinating between the director and musicians, and managing the actual event. Besides that, I manage tour programs for local and international residents. This includes developing tour programs, scouting tours, promotion, tour management, and risk management. And of course, I also am the head organizer of the choir.

WM: Is it possible to give a short introduction to what exactly the GIC Citizen’s Choir is and the basis behind its creation?
LJ: This choir is open to both local and international residents who love music and are willing to exchange their ideas and passions through the platform of music. We want to emphasize that this is the case even if they are not professional singers or do not have some sort of music major. As your readers might already know, classical music is not necessarily the most approachable subject, and it is regarded as a difficult genre for the public. The purpose of this participatory choir is, thus, to promote classical music and to encourage local and international residents of Gwangju to take part in activities of culture and art. As the brand-new GIC Citizen’s Choir is unique, we are planning to select well-known Korean and international folk songs to share the music of the world together.

WM: Sounds super fun! Is there an individual directing the choir at the moment?
LJ: The choir is led by Jung Gookjoo. Jung was a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Choir, conductor of the Chonnam University Choir and CNU OB Choir, as well as host of the Tenor Shin Dong-ho Voice Music Master Class from 2003 to 2014. Currently, he is the conductor of Ensemble Cantiamo and performs on various stages.

WM: Wow, sounds like a great opportunity for those looking to improve their singing skills. What should participants or prospective participants expect from joining the choir?
LJ: First, if you become a member, there will be nine regular practice sessions in a three-month period. (Currently, we have just three practice sessions left in May.) There will be one practical lesson every month given by a professional trainer. The participants will have vocalization lessons, learn from professional musicians, and receive mentorship. Second, the final performance of the choir is the 2018 May Concert held on May 27. It will be held at the Asia Culture Center’s Theater 2. It will be a unique experience for the choir to stand in front of a 500-member audience and sing. Our third and main purpose is exchange through music. The music will serve as a window for people from various backgrounds and provide opportunities for spending time together and exchanges. Last but not least, profits from the concert will be donated to local and international minorities within the city. Thus, choir members can perform and help the city at the same time.

WM: And I just want to clarify, are you still looking for people to join the choir?
LJ: Yes, we are definitely looking for more participants, especially international participants!

WM: The choir sounds like a great opportunity to strengthen ties between the Korean and international residents of Gwangju?
LJ: Exactly. Primarily, the participants will be lovers of music and collaborate over their passion for music using the medium to get closer with one another. I believe it is my role to help participants get along with each other and to help overcome the various cultural differences and language barriers that may arise.

WM: It sounds like your practices all culminate in the big May Concert you had mentioned earlier. For those interested in going to the May Concert, can you tell us a little about it and what we can expect from this year’s event?
LJ: Well, the May Concert has been held annually since 2003 for various purposes, such as raising funds for a shelter for foreign workers, raising funds for refugees as well as the victims of the earthquakes both in Japan and Nepal, learning a love for our country through music, and giving support to human rights activists for democracy. For those who attend this year’s concert, you can expect to see our choir performing both Korean and Western folk songs as well as performing a rendition of “Marching for Our Beloved,” the song of the 5.18 Gwangju Uprising.

WM: Wonderful, you had mentioned before that you were planning to donate the proceeds of the concert to local and international minority groups within Gwangju. What types of groups specifically are you planning on donating to?
LJ: There are many local and international minorities in Gwangju, such as refugees, stateless kids, orphans, and other people who need support from the community. For this year, we have not decided yet, and we are still searching for organizations or societies that support minorities in Gwangju.

For those who are interested in participating in the GIC Citizen’s Choir, feel free to reach out to Lee Jeongmin directly at 062-226-2732. As mentioned before, the GIC will be holding its 16th Annual May Concert on May 27 at the Asia Culture Center’s Theater 2.

The Author
Wilson Melbostad is an international human rights attorney hailing from San Francisco, California. Wilson has returned to Gwangju to undertake his newest project: the Organization for Migrant Legal Aid (OMLA), which operates out of the Gwangju International Center. He has also taken on the position of managing editor of the Gwangju News.