Gwangju’s ‘11 AM Music Walk’ Wraps Up Year with Film Score Master Lee Byung Woo
Sharon Jung / Published November 6, 2024 02:42 AM
Sharon Jung
Courtesy of Gwangju Arts Center
Gwangju Arts Center’s final “11 AM Music Walk” of the year will bring celebrated guitarist and film composer Lee Byung-woo to the stage. Set for November 26 at 11 a.m. in the small theater of the Gwangju Arts Center, the performance is expected to offer a heartfelt closure to this year's popular music series.
Lee, who first debuted in the legendary folk duo “A Day” alongside Cho Dong-ik in the 1980s, is a classically trained musician with a rich background. He graduated at the top of his class from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and went on to receive a full scholarship to study at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Since then, he has seamlessly combined elements of pop, jazz, blues, and rock ballads in his compositions, building a unique musical voice over the years.
Apart from his skill as a guitarist, Lee is also a well-known figure in Korean cinema as a composer. His film scores include the acclaimed “The King and the Clown,” “Mother,” “Haeundae,” “The Face Reader,” and “Ode to My Father.” His contributions have earned him prestigious awards, including the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Music in 2006 and the Buil Film Award for Best Music in 2009, solidifying his reputation as a leading composer in the Korean film industry.
In April, Lee performed at the historic New York Town Hall, a venue with over a century of musical history, bringing his music to an international audience. For this performance, Lee will recapture the essence of his New York concert for the Gwangju audience.
Under the theme “Guitar Meets Cinema,” Lee plans to perform selections from the soundtracks of renowned films such as Untold Scandal, The King and the Clown, Mother, A Tale of Two Sisters, and The Host. Audiences will experience a multi-layered performance of live music, accompanied by visuals from these films and Lee’s anecdotes about his creative process.
The event will be hosted by announcer Lee Sang-hyup from KBS Classic FM’s Your Night and Music, who will guide the audience through the morning’s program. Accompanying Lee are violinists Lee Ho-jun and Choi Ji-eun, violist Jo Jae-hyun, cellist Jeong Kwang-jun, and double bassist Kim Man-ki, who will create a harmonious backdrop for the acoustic journey.
A representative from the Gwangju Arts Center remarked, “The ‘11 AM Music Walk’ series has received an overwhelming response from Gwangju citizens this year. We hope that guitarist and film composer Lee Byung-woo’s moving performance will provide a memorable close to the year.”
Sayart / Sharon Jung, guhuijeong784@gmail.com
Courtesy of Gwangju Arts Center
Gwangju Arts Center’s final “11 AM Music Walk” of the year will bring celebrated guitarist and film composer Lee Byung-woo to the stage. Set for November 26 at 11 a.m. in the small theater of the Gwangju Arts Center, the performance is expected to offer a heartfelt closure to this year's popular music series.
Lee, who first debuted in the legendary folk duo “A Day” alongside Cho Dong-ik in the 1980s, is a classically trained musician with a rich background. He graduated at the top of his class from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and went on to receive a full scholarship to study at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Since then, he has seamlessly combined elements of pop, jazz, blues, and rock ballads in his compositions, building a unique musical voice over the years.
Apart from his skill as a guitarist, Lee is also a well-known figure in Korean cinema as a composer. His film scores include the acclaimed “The King and the Clown,” “Mother,” “Haeundae,” “The Face Reader,” and “Ode to My Father.” His contributions have earned him prestigious awards, including the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Music in 2006 and the Buil Film Award for Best Music in 2009, solidifying his reputation as a leading composer in the Korean film industry.
In April, Lee performed at the historic New York Town Hall, a venue with over a century of musical history, bringing his music to an international audience. For this performance, Lee will recapture the essence of his New York concert for the Gwangju audience.
Under the theme “Guitar Meets Cinema,” Lee plans to perform selections from the soundtracks of renowned films such as Untold Scandal, The King and the Clown, Mother, A Tale of Two Sisters, and The Host. Audiences will experience a multi-layered performance of live music, accompanied by visuals from these films and Lee’s anecdotes about his creative process.
The event will be hosted by announcer Lee Sang-hyup from KBS Classic FM’s Your Night and Music, who will guide the audience through the morning’s program. Accompanying Lee are violinists Lee Ho-jun and Choi Ji-eun, violist Jo Jae-hyun, cellist Jeong Kwang-jun, and double bassist Kim Man-ki, who will create a harmonious backdrop for the acoustic journey.
A representative from the Gwangju Arts Center remarked, “The ‘11 AM Music Walk’ series has received an overwhelming response from Gwangju citizens this year. We hope that guitarist and film composer Lee Byung-woo’s moving performance will provide a memorable close to the year.”
