Sookmyung Women’s University held an outdoor concert that brought Sookmyung students together, celebrating the fact that Sookmyung was established 111 years ago.

On September 14th, in the square in front of the Sunheon building an outdoor concert was hosted by the School of Music for the unity of all Sookmyung members including students, school personnel and alumni. Celebrating the 111th anniversary this year, the concert was arranged to support Sookmyung’s renaissance resolution giving hope for the future.

It started with fanfare ensemble of students majoring in wind and string instruments at 5pm followed by students majoring in piano playing 8hands ensemble, Galop Marche for piano 8hands in D Major (composed by A. Lavignac) and Petite Suite L.65 No.4 Ballet (composed by C. Debussy).

This was followed by the College of Music alumni choir and freshmen majoring in vocal performance who sang ‘Beautiful Sookmyung’, and ‘One (from the musical, A Chorus Line)’, showing their spirit and unity. Conducted by professor Shin Eunhye, Sookmyung Symphony Orchestra played ‘Bugler’s Holiday’ and ‘Academic Festival Overture Op.80 (composed by Brahms)’ as the atmosphere heated up. Afterwards, the Narsha choir performed ‘The road starts again at the end of the road’ and ‘Swinging with the saints’. Singing ‘The road starts again at the end of the road’ added a meaningful aspect to the proceedings as it had been selected in a contest by students majoring in composition for this concert.

Lastly, the song ‘Do you hear the people sing (from the musical Les Miserables)’ and ‘Sookmyung Arirang’ decorated an impressive finale. This was conducted by professor Kim Kyung-hee (the first female conductor in Korea), played by the Sookmyung Philharmonic Orchestra with vocals provided by 111 members of Sookmyung, including students, alumni and school staff who performed to an audience of approximately 1,000 audiences, including President Kang Jungae, and members of the Sookmyung Renaissance Advisory Committee who gathered to feel the classic autumn evening at the concert.

The concert was open to local residents at no cost for the sake of developing the community culture at the only university in Yongsan-gu. The School of Music stated, “We hope this would be a great foundation for communication and growth with the local community together with SMU, a university which has a long history and its own tradition.”

Translation by Sookmyung Interpretation Volunteers