School of Music’s KNUA Opera and KNUA Symphony Orchestra Stages “Don Giovanni” at the National Theater of Korea

The KNUA Opera’s 29^th subscription opera, “Dong Giovanni,” is staged 4 times at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea from 6 to 8 September. Professor Hong Hearan of the Department of Vocal Music served as an art director, emeritus professor Chung Chi-yong as conductor, Kim Hong-seung as a director, and Jeong Hojeong and Jeong Tae-yang as music supervisors.

The Department of Vocal Music of the School of Music has fostered outstanding vocal talents through systematic and professional training practices. From 1995, the year of its establishment, to now, the department has annually hosted the subscription opera with the only exception in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

The Department of Vocal Music’s curriculum is distinguished for allowing its students to experience and engage in opera production, from which it develops students’ competence to the maximum. The alumni active in their fields include soprano Hong Haeran (the first Asian winner of the International Queen Elizabeth Competition), soprano Seo Sunyoung (Tchaikovsky International Competition winner), bassist Park Jongmin (Tchaikovsky International Competition winner), and tenor Son Jihoon (Tchaikovsky International Competition winner).

For this year’s event, K-Arts conducted an on-campus audition. After 3 weeks of voice training and 7 weeks of rehearsals involving acting coaching and stage directing by all staff members, the performance is finally put on stage. The preparation followed through a professional opera’s production procedures in the industry.

Dean of the School of Music Lee Kangho pinpointed, “It is the School of Music’s chance to showcase our excellence in many dimensions. We expect the choir and orchestra of KNUA opera members to come into their own on stage at the National Theater of Korea.”