Hillyer College and The Hartt School Present
Free Multicultural Music Performance
Multicultural Music Festival
January 28, 7 p.m.
Hillyer College and The Hartt School are excited to welcome three distinguished artists and seven students from the Department of Korean Music at Seoul National University—Korea’s premier institution for traditional and contemporary arts—for a vibrant Multicultural Music Festival on Wednesday, January 28.
Audiences will have the chance to experience the beauty, power, and innovation of Korean music through a 12:45 p.m. workshop in the Shaw Center, and a free 7 p.m. concert in Lincoln Theater.
The program will showcase some of the most beloved genres and repertoires in Korean traditional music, alongside contemporary works by Astor Piazzolla, Donald Womack, and Robert Carl—highlighting both the richness of Korea’s musical heritage and its connections to global artistic traditions.
This year’s festival also includes a dynamic collaboration with The Hartt School’s Jazz Department, uniting Korean traditional performers with Hartt’s jazz artists for an inspiring cross-cultural performance. Joining jazz guitar faculty member Richard Goldstein will be Hartt School students Grant Boes (piano), Patrick Gordon (bass), and Sanga Yoon (cello), as well as Hartt School alumna and Hartt Community Division instructor Selah Kwak (violin) and Sangwon Lee (clarinet) with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
Festival performers include:
Heo Yoon Jeong, geomungo virtuoso and professor at Seoul National University, is celebrated for her mastery of both classical and modern forms and her international recognition as founder of the acclaimed fusion group Black String, which blends Korean gugak with jazz and rock.
Noh Eunah, haegeum performer and professor at Seoul National University, is a leading figure in Korean music, known for expanding the haegeum’s repertoire through major collaborations and international performances, including a Carnegie Hall solo recital.
Bang Ji-won, percussionist and composer, is a specialist in Korean shaman music, drawing on ritual traditions to explore the connections between sound, movement, and spirituality.
Ju-Yong Ha, Ethnomusicologist and Composer, Assistant Professor of Music, Hillyer CollegeThis year’s festival will have Korean traditional musicians and Hartt jazz artists sharing the stage in a one-of-a-kind cross-cultural performance that blends improvisation, rhythmic traditions, and musical imagination. This creative exchange reflects the festival’s mission to celebrate multicultural artistry and build bridges across musical worlds.
Schedule of Events
Free Workshop
Wednesday, January 28, 12:45–2 p.m., Shaw Center, Hillyer Hall
All are invited to participate to attend the pre-performance workshop with the musicians.
Multicultural Festival Concert
Wednesday, January 28, 7 p.m., Lincoln Theater
Pieces performed will highlight Korea's deep musical heritage, its spirit of innovation, and rich dialogue with global music traditions.
Questions?
For more information, contact Hillyer College Assistant Professor of Music Ju-Yong Ha.