Composer Gim Youshin Joins Poznań Musical Spring and Warsaw International Book Fair by Invitation

Composer Gim Youshin, an alumnus of the Department of Composition, School of Music, released his new work after being invited to the official programs of the 54^th Poznań Musical Spring and the Warsaw International Book Fair.

Established in 1961, Poznań Musical Spring is a prestigious event with a long history, which has invited great Polish masters of contemporary music, including Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Górecki. The festival is known for shaping the identity of contemporary music in Eastern Europe. While it is a venue where experimentalism and artistry intersect, it is notable that a work by a Korean composer has been officially invited for the first time since composer Chin Unsuk.

Gim Youshin unveiled his new work with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra on April 26. The Poznań Philharmonic is a prestigious orchestra that has built its reputation since its foundation in 1947, known for its profound interpretations and excellence in performance. In his latest release, Gim added contemporary sensibilities to the traditional orchestral sounds, creating a delicate sound world where tension and lyricism coexist.

He was also invited to the International Warsaw Book Fair, one of Central Europe's largest international book fairs, on May 16. This year, South Korea officially participates in the fair as the Guest of Honor, and Gim Youshin and Lee Sangjun plan to present a special stage, “Lyric Echoes: Polish Poem, Korean Timbre – The Musical Portraits of Sangjun Lee and Youshin Gim.” This performance is a creative combination of modern Polish poetry and modern Korean music. Gim and Lee co-composed the work, inspired by the poetry of Wislawa Szymborska, a Nobel Prize-winning poet, which will premiere at the event.

Gim Youshin is pursuing his MA at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music Dresden after earning a BA from K-Arts. Serving as the artistic director of the Yeongwol Contemporary Music Festival, Gim is actively working on the creative front across a wide range of music genres.

This project was proactively organized and sponsored by the Korean Cultural Center in Poland. As Poland’s musical community is rich in both tradition and experimentation, this opportunity to introduce Korea’s contemporary music to the community is significant for expanding Korean sensibilities and creativity within the global landscape of contemporary music.