KBS Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The KBS Symphony Orchestra (KBS 교향악단) is one of the most famous symphony orchestras in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

. It was founded in 1956 as the radio orchestra
Radio orchestra
A radio orchestra is an orchestra employed by a radio network in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. In the heyday of radio such orchestras were numerous, performing classical, popular, light music and jazz...

 of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).

Between 1969 to 1981, it became a state-run organization, changing its name to the National Symphony Orchestra of Korea. In this period, they performed chiefly in the National Theater of Korea
National Theater of Korea
The National Theater of Korea is a national theatre located in the neighborhood of Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, South Korea. It is the first federally managed theater in Asia.- Affiliation :...

. In 1979, they made their first tour overseas, in USA.

From 1981, the orchestra's designation was restored to its former name, and new positions, such as general manager, principal guest conductor and full-time conductor, were established in the organization. Their subsequent overseas tours were in Southeast Asia(1984) and Japan(1985 and 1991). In October 1995, they performed in the UN General Assembly in New York City.

In 2000 and 2002, they performed with the State Symphony Orchestra of DPRK in Seoul and Pyongyang. They also held "goodwill exchange concerts" with NHK Symphony Orchestra
NHK Symphony Orchestra
The in Tokyo, Japan began as the New Symphony Orchestra on October 5, 1926 and was the country's first professional symphony orchestra. Later, it changed its name to Japan Symphony Orchestra and in 1951, after receiving financial support from NHK, it took its current name...

 and China National Symphony Orchestra
China National Symphony Orchestra
The China National Symphony Orchestra is China's national orchestra....

 in 2002.

They now play chiefly in KBS Hall
KBS Hall
KBS Hall is a part of the Korean Broadcasting System headquarters, located in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea.- Taped programs :*Open Concert*KBS Symphony Orchestra concerts*Blue Dragon Film Awards*KBS Music Festival- External links :*...

 and the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center
Seoul Arts Center
The Seoul Arts Center, literally the Hall of Arts, is a cultural center in Seocho-gu, the southern area of Seoul, South Korea.Measuring in 12,0350 m², it consists of many different halls and centers for many diverse art forms. It began construction in 1984, and opened all its doors in 1993...

.

Conductors

Principal Conductors
  • Won-Sik Im (1956–1971)
  • Yeon-Taek Hong (1971–1981)
  • Gyeong-Su Won (1986–1988)
  • Othmar Mága (1992–1996)
  • Myung-Whun Chung
    Myung-Whun Chung
    Myung-whun Chung is a South Korean pianist and conductor.His sisters, violinist Kyung-wha Chung, and cellist Myung-wha Chung, and he at one time performed together as the Chung Trio. He was a joined second-prize winner in the 1974 International Tchaikovsky Competition. Chung studied conducting at...

     (1999)
  • Dmitri Kitayenko (1999–2004)


Principal Guest Conductors
  • Walter Gilesen (1982–1984)
  • Moshe Atzmon
    Moshe Atzmon
    Moshe Atzmon is a Hungarian-born Israeli conductor.He was born in Budapest, and at the age of thirteen he emigrated with his family to Tel Aviv, Israel. He started his musical career on the horn before going to London for further studies in conducting....

     (1990–1992)
  • Vakhtang Jordania
    Vakhtang Jordania
    Vakhtang Jordania was a Georgian conductor.-Biography:Born in the Republic of Georgia on Dec. 9, 1943, Maestro Jordania studied piano from the age of five. After graduating from the Tbilisi Conservatory, he studied symphonic and operatic conducting at the Leningrad Conservatory, graduating with...

     (1990–1996)
  • Eun-Seong Park (2000–2002)
  • Seung Gwak (2004–2006)


Full-time Conductor
  • Nan-Sae Geum (1981–1992)


Conductor Emeritus
  • Won-Sik Im (1998–2002)

Recordings

In 1995, the KBS Symphony Orchestra recorded Alan Hovhaness
Alan Hovhaness
Alan Hovhaness was an Armenian-American composer.His music is accessible to the lay listener and often evokes a mood of mystery or contemplation...

' Symphonies Nos. 39 and 46 with guitarist Michael Long and conductor Vakhtang Jordania in KOCH International Classics. The recording was nominated for the Grammy Awards and, since then, has become quite famous. The Orchestra has also made numerous recordings with Seoul Records, KBS and other recording companies.

External links

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