World's largest choir competition coming to Gangneung

Music & Performance

Published: 21 Jun. 2023, 15:07 Updated: 21 Jun. 2023, 19:17

World's largest choir competition coming to Gangneung

President of the 2023 World Choir Games Gangneung Huh Yong-soo, left, and Head of Operations Shim Sang-bok attend a press briefing in Jung District, central Seoul, on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

The World Choir Games Gangneung hopes to bring the world together through music amidst its mountains and oceans.

Known as the world's largest international choir competition, the biannual World Choir Games this year will be held in Gangneung for 11 days from July 3. Some 8,000 people from 34 countries are expected to participate.

“Music has the power to heal and speaks to people across borders and cultures,” said Huh Yong-soo, the president of the 2023 Choir Games’ national organizing committee, at a press briefing on Wednesday in Jung District, central Seoul. “Our committee is committed to bringing the world together this way and celebrate the end of Covid-19 with beautiful harmonies that will ring across the beautiful scenery of Gangneung next month.”

The World Choir Games Gangneung was pushed back one year due to Covid-19. The Games were last held in Korea in 2002, in Busan.

Participants in this year's Games include the last World Choir Games’ highest scoring group Amaranthe from Belgium, Dekoor Close Harmony from the Netherlands and Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete Choir from Botswana.

Some 40 members of the Ukrainian girls' choir Vognyk will also be visiting Gangneung to participate in the upcoming games.

“We are in a difficult state right now as my country is currently at war, but I want to sing about peace that will ring the hearts of people all over the world in the country that has been split in half because of war,” said Olena Solovei, the choir’s conductor, through a press statement.

The Vognyk choir will perform during the World Choir Games Gangneung’s opening ceremony, as well as celebratory concerts on July 5 and 6, and the closing ceremony on July 13.

Over 200 local choral groups will also take part in the Games.

Ukrainian girls' choir Vognyk [WORLD CHOIR GAMES GANGNEUNG]

The opening ceremony at the Gangeung Arena will emphasize the beauty of Gangneung by incorporating the city’s natural sounds and music from Korean traditional instruments, according to event officials. Singers Kyuhyun, Gummy, crossover quartet Fortena's member David DQ Lee, RabidAnce’s Ko Yeong-yeol and soprano Hera Hyesang Park are set to perform in the opening ceremony as well.

“We hope that the event can further promote Korea's and Gangeung’s cultural assets,” said Huh. “Our ultimate goal is to help make Gangneung a global top 100 tourism city.”

Tickets for the opening and closing ceremony of the 2023 World Choir Games Gangneung are available on the local ticketing platform Yes24. Viewings for the competition, award ceremonies and concerts are free. For more information, visit wcg2023.kr.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]