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The [100+4 Piano Island Festival] will take place over two days, April 27th-28th, on a special stage inside the 1004 Museum Park on Sinan's Jaeun Island.

 

The opening performance "As Myself, As Us" - features Lim Dongchang, young performers active both in Korea and internationally, professors, and majors, totaling 104 pianists, along with guest musicians.

 

◆ Jaeun Island 'Island of the Piano' Project

 

eollanam-do Sinan County (County Mayor Park Wooryang) will host the [100+4 Piano Island Festival] on Jaeun Island for two days, April 27th and 28th. As part of a new art island project, Sinan County named Jaeun Island as the 'Island of the Piano' in November 2022 and appointed composer and pianist Lim Dongchang as the artistic director, pushing forward with the 'Island of the Piano' project. The main performance of the 2023 Piano Island Festival was scheduled to be integrated into the October 'Culture Month of Korea' event as a pre-festival celebration but was canceled due to strong winds, leading to many disappointments. On the other hand, the next day, the opening performance of Culture Month themed around Sinan Sandai featured a 100+4 piano orchestra symbolizing the 1004 islands of Sinan, which received a great response. 

 

 

◆ 2024 [100+4 Piano Island Festival] Opening Performance

 

The opening performance will start at 5:30 PM on April 27th, set against the backdrop of the sunset. Despite being somewhat early for a concert, the timing reflects the lifestyle of the islanders, who tend to complete most of their daily schedules before sunset.

 

The performance kicks off with a solo by Lim Dongchang, followed by the appearance of 103 pianists playing 'Arirang' to open the concert. The main cast of 100+4 pianists includes Lim Dongchang, young international students (Edwin Kim, Jeong Minjeong, Won Jongho, Kim Dayoung, Kim Jeongwon, Victoria Yeu-En Chung), university professors (Hwang Seongsoon, Kwon Hyejin, Hwang Mikyung, Park Sukryeon, Kim Youngshin, Lee Jooyong), and graduate and undergraduate students. Over approximately two hours, they will traverse freely across genres such as classical music, jazz, traditional Korean music, and popular songs, illustrating the journey of how the piano, a quintessential Western instrument, came into Korea and unfolded into music that is uniquely ours. From 'Beyer' exercises to 'La Campanella', they will perform familiar classical pieces and a jazz rendition of 'Naljomboso'(traditional folk song), enhance the excitement with opera arias, and accompany popular songs, showing how the piano meets our traditional melodies and permeates the lives of the public. The finale, another performance of 'Arirang', reminds us of the festival's theme to pursue music that is uniquely individual and collectively ours, communicating and uniting with the audience and the world through the piano.

 

As guests, top-class musicians such as singer Song Changsik, Jung Hoonhee, guitarist Kim Dogyun, violinist Eugene Park, soprano Park Sunghee, Ajaeng master Kim Younggil, and traditional percussionists Kim Dongwon, Kim Juhong add to the enjoyment, making further explanation unnecessary. Meanwhile, a new piano called 'Piatgo,' created by Lim Dongchang in collaboration with piano craftsman Seo Sangjong, injects freshness. Its sound, much more primal and powerful than a regular piano, ensures it holds its own even when played with traditional Korean instruments or electric guitars. The highlight of the performance, the 'Chilchae Hwimori' stage, will fully reveal the true nature of the Piatgo, along with the power of creative music that rejuvenates the old.

 

 

◆ "As Myself, As Us"

 

Lim Dongchang, an unparalleled pianist and contemporary music composer, is also well-known for his EBS special lecture, "Lim Dongchang Talks About Our Music." Having constructed a unique musical world that fully embodies the DNA of traditional Korean music, known as "Heoteun Garak," the stages he directs always meld questions and answers about what constitutes 'true Koreanness.' He explains the reason behind choosing the theme "As Myself, As Us" for a festival headlined by the piano, a quintessential Western instrument, as follows:

"The piano has been in our country for over 100 years. Thanks to our innate talent and passion, our piano playing skills have reached the highest levels internationally. Now, we need to continue the unbroken thread of our identity, that is, the vein of our traditional music. 'As Myself, As Us' means creating music where different 'me's come together, blending beautifully through music that is true to ourselves."

◆ A Song for Jaeun-do

This performance offers a peek into Lim Dongchang's profound affection for Jaeun island. He has composed 'To All Who Have Guarded Jaeun-do' as a gesture of gratitude towards the nature, history, culture, and people of Jaeun island, which have made this festival feasible. These compositions will resonate through the harmony of 100+4 pianos during the performance. Furthermore, Lim introduces songs that translate the island's natural wonders and narratives into music, such as 'Song of the Lady Pine – Zeuoh-heuh-uah,' inspired by the enchanting lady pine at Bungye Beach, and 'The Dream of a Baby Octopus - To Be Like My Mother,' a tribute to the love and sacrifice of mother octopuses (who watch over their eggs without eating until they hatch, sometimes at the cost of their own lives). These are gifts of song to the nature of Jaeun island, honoring the island that hosts the festival.

 

 ◆ "Me Too, 100+4 Pianists" and "Bora-Hae Dance Festival" Among Various Programs

 

On the second day of the festival, April 28th, the main stage hosts the performance for participants in the "Me Too, 100+4 Pianists" and the competition of dance teams in the "Bora-Hae Dance Festival," both of which require pre-registration. "Me Too, 100+4 Pianists" accepts applications through the Piano Island Festival website at http://pianoislandfestival.modoo.at/. Participants can choose from arrangements of sheet music categorized by difficulty and practice in advance. Then, on the 28th, under the direction of Artistic Director Lim Dongchang, they will perform on the special stage with 100+4 pianos.

 

Additionally, various side events will accompany the festival, including hot air balloon rides over the course of two days, piano busking open to all, "Campfire Music & Starlight Cinema" at the camping site, a "Jaeun-do Culinary Journey" featuring local specialties, and a "Gimbap Festival," among others, providing a diverse range of activities for attendees.

 

 

◆ 'Piano Island' Project

The 'Piano Island' project is said to proceed under three frameworks: piano festivals, piano academies, and international competitions.

 

Starting from this summer, the piano academy will be bifurcated into an academy teaching professional pianists and another catering to local residents. The professional academy will select piano majors nationwide during the summer vacation period and will be held for two nights and three days at the 1004 Museum Park. The 104 pianists who graduate from the first session of the academy will participate in next year's Piano Island Festival. The goal of the international competition is to discover creative talents who compose and perform their own works.

 

￭ For information and inquiries regarding the Piano Island Festival:
Website: http://pianoislandfestival.modoo.at/
Phone: '2024 100+4 Piano Island Festival Operations Office' 061-240-8684

 

￭ Theme Music Video Link <Beautiful Piano Island, Jaeun-do> (Composer: Lim Dongchang)
https://youtu.be/e3IaNq6ywdk?feature=shared