K-Culture Talk: An Evening of Korean Poetry and Art Songs

Join us for An Evening of Korean Poetry and Art Songs exploring the musical genre of Gagok (가곡) in collaboration with the talented members and performs of the Asian American Music Society (AAMS)!

Art Songs, also known as Lied music, are a traditional form of sung poetry known in Korean as Gagok. The popular classical genre adapts a European concept with Korean aesthetics, lyrics, expression, and musicality. This event aims to introduce the beauty of Korean culture through its poetry and art songs, offering a unique opportunity to explore the genre’s deep emotional and cultural significance. Experience firsthand a fusion of Korean poetry and music, delving into the Gagok genre’s emotional and artistic depth.

The program will feature AAMS guest artists Dr. Mira Yang (soprano), Dr. Min Jin (tenor), Dr. Kwon Kee Sun (soprano), Dr. Hong Eunyoung (soprano), and Dr. Lee Seung Yun (pianist), as well as special guest performers Nancy McLean, Kelly Cooper, Michaela Marin, David Meng, Doha Tawfiq, and Kim Seung-kyo, and talented student artists from George Mason University. 

The workshop portion of the event will introduce famous Korean poems and their musical adaptations, each revealing the harmonious interplay of two art forms. Featured performances will include “Song of Farewell” (poem by Park Mok-wol), “A Thousand Winds” (poem by Kim Seong-gyu), “There Lives a Child in My Heart” (poem by Yun Dong-ju), “Dream of Love” (poem by Lee Baek-su), “Though Life Deceives You” (poem by Lee Tae-baek), “First Love” (poem by Kim So-wol), “On a Happy Morning” (poem by Han Yong-un), “Snow” (poem by Jang Deok-su), and “Longing, Longing” (from the classical Korean pansori Chunhyang with music by Ahn Ik-tae). Gain a deeper understanding of the meaning behind each art song through live performances and discussion before meeting the artists and speakers over a light Korean reception.

For more on the artists, program, and featured poetry and music scroll below or .

An Evening of Korean Poetry and Art Songs
Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C.
Free with an RSVP! Light reception provided.

About AAMS & the Musicians

The Asian American Music Society (AAMS) was founded in 1989 to promote an appreciation of all forms of music and to celebrate the unique contributions of different cultures to the world of music. AAMS achieves this through concerts, workshops, galas, and various events throughout the Washington, D.C. region. Officially formed in 1993 and incorporated in 1996, AAMS comprises performing members, regular members, an executive committee, and a board of directors representing diverse Asian American communities. AAMS supports diverse cultural functions and has collaborated with prominent organizations including the Kennedy Center and Washington, D.C. embassies. AAMS produced the world premiere of the Chinese contemporary opera Lan-Ying, and has hosted the Asian Song Festival and Asian Chamber Music Festival. The organization also regularly supports the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration at the Kennedy Center and has presented artists at U.S. government functions, including in partnerships with NASA and the FBI. AAMS hosts annual music competitions for K-12 students and college students and organizes special events including the Bethesda Summer Music Festival and the AAMS Emerging Artist Workshop.

Dr. Mira Yang (Soprano) earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Catholic University of America, a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Music from Ewha Womans University. She studied at the Hochschule Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and in Italy with Iris Adami Coradetti and the Società dei Concerti. Dr. Yang also attended AIMS in Graz, Austria, the Altenburg Academy in Germany, and the Minnesota Opera Center with Wesley Balk. Additionally, she participated in the Dicapo Opera summer program and the Shaker Mountain Festival. She served as a Maryland State Arts Council Panelist and has lectured on Vocal Science and Health at various international conventions, including those in China, Finland, and Korea. Dr. Yang is the president of the Asian American Music Society (AAMS), serves as the Chair for the Students Voice Competition for the Friday Morning Music Club in Washington, D.C., and is the Artistic Director for the AAMS Winter Workshop at the REACH at the Kennedy Center, the AAMS International Summer Music Institute across Europe and Southeast Asia, and the Bethesda Summer Music Festival. She has also been an Adjunct Professor at American University and the Catholic University of America. Currently, she is a voice professor at George Mason University and a Community Advisory Board member at the Kennedy Center.

Dr. Min Jin (Tenor) has performed with numerous opera companies in both America and Korea. As an oratorio soloist, he has sung in notable works such as Messiah, Elijah, Missa Solemnis, The Creation, and The Seasons, with renowned orchestras including the Rochester Philharmonic, New Jersey Philharmonic, and Russian National Symphony. Dr. Jin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music from the Department of Religious Music at Chongshin University, a Master of Music from Mannes College of Music, and a DMA from the Eastman School of Music. He previously taught at Michigan Grand Valley State University and is currently an Associate Professor of Voice at Towson University in Maryland. Additionally, he serves as the music director of the Washington Korean Ensemble and is the President of the Korean American Music Association.

Dr. Kee Sun Kwon (Soprano), a faculty member at the Catholic University of America, performed as a soloist in the “Songs of the Forgotten War” concert on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and with the Hines-Lee Opera Ensemble during the Opera Gala also at the Kennedy Center. She made her New York debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and is a prizewinner of the Gerda Lissner Foundation in New York. Ms. Kwon also received the Peabody Career Development Grant.

Dr. Eunyoung Hong (Soprano) graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Ewha Womans University, a Master of Music from Indiana University Bloomington (Jacobs School of Music), and a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree from The Catholic University of America. She has performed in several operas, including Le nozze di Figaro, Un ballo in Maschera, The Merry Widow, Hänsel und Gretel, and Nolbuya, and has appeared in numerous solo recitals and duo concerts with orchestras. Dr. Hong has served as a part-time faculty member at Myongji University, Chugye University for the Arts, and Chonnam National University. Currently, she teaches at Sunhwa Arts High School and is the representative of Shine Arts Company.

Dr. Seung Yun Lee (Pianist) graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Piano Performance and earned a Master of Music and Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music in New York. She received her Doctorate in Collaborative Piano from the Graduate School of Sungshin Women’s University. Dr. Lee has also completed courses at the Nice International Music Academy and the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute. She has performed at notable events such as Songfest and the Granada Spanish Song Festival. A former lecturer at Seoul National University, Gachon University, Sungshin Women’s University, Dongduk Women’s University, Hansei University, and Seoul Jangsin University, Dr. Lee is a member of the Korean Accompanists Association.

Host or Publisher Korean Cultural Center DC