- Graduated in KyeongHee university department of Music majoring in composing
- Graduated in ChungJu graduate university department of Music, majoring in composing
- Cologne music university Gasthoerer
- UC Sonoma exchange professor
- Head of music department in Cheju National University Department of Humanity
- Music Education Head Professor in Cheju National University Education Graduate School
- Supervisor and Conductor in Jeju junior orchestra
- Chairman in International Exchange Cooperation Committee
It is now true that Jeju Island is not an artless place anymore. To improve offerings to the islanders, Jeju is being raise the budget in art and encouraging performers and artists. Above all, the number of artist groups are increasing steadily. One of them is ‘Jeju Junior Orchestra’. It was founded in 1989 by Jang Hong Ryoung. They have had concerts in America and Shanghai China, as well as in Jeju. In August of last year, they had a exchange concert and consolidate the base of orchestra. Now, let’s meet Jang Hong Ryoung who established ‘Jeju Junior Orchestra’ and find out how he founded it, this orchestra’s activity and his life in music.
1.The Islander : What inspired you to Establish this orchestra ?
Msic Supervisor Jang I’m a music teacher. In the 1970’s when I was high school teacher in DaeJeon, there were a lot of famous Korean musicians. However they studied in other countries, not in Korea. I thought of this issue deeply. I knew it was a sort of didactic problem, so I concentrated on ‘Improve music by ensemble’ and founded ‘DaeJeon Young Orchestra’ in 1979. However It ended up in financial difficulties after two years. Afterwards when I came to CNU(Cheju National University) in 1983, I couldn’t abandon my dream, so I started ‘Jeju Junior Orchestra’ in 1989. This orchestra has been operating for 18 years.
2.The Islander : Jeju's cultural level is very low. Are there any difficulties in operating an orchestra?
Music Supervisor Jang It is important that an orchestra have various instruments and also balance between parts. However there are a lot of violin and cello players in Jeju, especially we have many flute players. On the contrary, oboe player, clarinet player and contrabass players are so few. Worst of all, there are no bassoonist in Jeju, it is deplorable thing. Looking at the children advancing, their changing makes me feel happy. Above all things, parents of students and supporters help me a lot.
3. The Islander: You published ‘Green Mountain Looking at Me’, what do you think during writing music ?
Music Supervisor Jang I collected songs in ‘Green Mountain Looking at Me,’ when I came to Jeju in 1983, because I felt drawn to Jeju’s beautiful scenery. I went to Halla Mountain and beaches on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. I visited almost every place and thought to myself ‘I’ll compose a song to every famous tourist spot.’ For that reason, I searched for suitable poems by visiting Youngdooam, Sarabong, Marado, beaches, etc. Even now I am composing a song for ‘Trace of 4.3, Dolharubang, and Sungsan Ilchulbong’ which I am fond of. Although there are great poems praising Jeju’s scenary, it is difficult to find suitable ones. When I look at a collection of poems, I have a great regard for titles regarding Jeju’s scenary. Once I find a poem which I like, I recite it everyday and a song comes to my mind naturally. It is not a good song but I thanks to everyone who like my song.
4.The Islander : Professor's musical talent might have effected to children, are there any musicians in your family ?
Music Supervisor Jang All of my family play music. My wife majored violin. She teaches students now. I have three daughters and a son. My eldest daughter took after her mother and plays the violin. After studying abroad in Germany, she is active in the Jeju Muncipal Symphony Orchestra. My second daughter took after me and majoring in composing and theory. She is in working on her doctorate degree in Germany. The last majored in vocals. Right after she came back from Germany, she married and busy bringing up a baby. My son, the youngest, studied piano but he wanted to study art. Therefore, he is majoring in carving and modeling. Lately he is fascinated with cartoons and draws them.
5.The Islander : What do you think of the cultural level of Jeju ?
Music Supervisor Jang That is a tough question. It will be suitable to talk about music first, and then whole cultural field. It was true that the condition of quality was low when I first came to Jeju. There were no concert hall so we had a concert in the civic center. However the quality of the cultural level in Jeju is very high now. In fact, it is true that we can’t match the quality in big cities and international concert halls. The standard of musicians is high, but we can’t say we have professional concert hall. Every genre, such as opera, orchestra, musicals, modern music has its own characteristics, so exclusive theaters are essential in Jeju. The Art and Literature hall and Halla Art Hall are general theaters. I think we need a shrine of art to stand out internationally, like Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. We now live in Jeju Free International City, so we need to be like that of Australia.
6.The Islander : Do you have a concert plan in 2007 ?
Music Supervisor Jang Our orchestra members consist of elementary school, middle school, high school and university student, so we give more attention to education then performing. We have ten times of concert a year. To improve members ensemble skills, we have two stated period concert a year. Also to improve individuals skill, we have four small concert. The night of concerto is for students who want to major in music. We have a concert for highschool seniors, ‘The Night of Examine’ to encourage what they have done during highschool and good luck on their exam. Last of all, we have four or five concert, visiting hospitals and an old people’s home to improve members dedication and commitment to the community. We have same plan in 2007. We have ‘Jeju-Incheon Junior Orchestra Exchange Concert’ in the Art and Literature Hall on February 28, and will also give a performance titled, ‘Classic Concert with Magic’ in the Halla Art Hall on May 10.
