The Korean Cultural Society of Boston
한미예술협회
KCSB Spring Concert
Tradition Reimagined: Classical & Folk Music of Korea
Chaeyoung Lee (geomungo); Yoona Kim (ajaeng); Yeyun Jang (piri)
Sunday, May 4, 3:00 pm
New England Conservatory's Brown Hall
290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA
Program
Pyeongjohoesang – Yuchosinjigok (평조회상 - 유초신지곡) Court Orchestral Suite of the Joseon Dynasty
Chaeyoung Lee, geomungo, Yeyun Jang, piri, Yoona Kim, ajaeng
Yeochang Gagok – Ujo Urak “Baram-eun” (여창가곡 우조 우락 “바람은”) Classical Korean Female Vocal Solo
Chaeyoung Lee, vocal and geomungo; Yoona Kim, janggu
Piri Improvised Solo – Yeomyangchun (염양춘 피리 즉흥 연주)
Yeyun Jang, piri
Gyeongseodo Minyo (경서도 민요) Folk Song Medley: “Noraetgarak,” “Yeonpyeongdo Nanbongga,” and “Jajin Banga Taryeong”
Yoona Kim, vocal and janggu; Yeyun Jang, piri; Chaeyoung Lee, janggu
Ajaeng Sanjo (윤윤석류 아쟁산조)
Yoona Kim, ajaeng; Yeyun Jang, janggu
Namdo Gutgeori (남도 굿거리) Folk Ensemble
Yeyun Jang, piri; Yoona Kim, ajaeng; Chaeyoung Lee, janggu
Artists
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Chaeyoung Lee
Chaeyoung Lee, PhD, is a composer, traditional Korean music performer, educator, and musicologist specializing in ethnomusicology (music anthropology) and East Asian performing arts.
She began her journey in traditional Korean music as a member of a folk singing ensemble in elementary school, and later studied the geomungo at the National Gugak Middle and High School. She has performed the geomungo, traditional Korean folk and classical songs, and dances in cities across Korea, as well as in Pakse (Laos), Beijing (China), Toronto (Canada), and New York and Boston (USA). Additionally, she has collaborated with diverse world music ensembles from various cultures, including Canadian Inuit throat singing, Balinese gamelan, Afro-Cuban music and dance, Western classical music, contemporary improvisation, and jazz.
Dr. Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Seoul National University, where she also participated in a project to digitize the sounds of traditional Korean musical instruments. She holds a master’s degree in Ethnomusicology and Asia-Pacific Studies from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from Boston University. Her academic interests focus
on Cold War music history in Korea, North Korean defector musicians in South Korea, and the intersections of music, gymnastics, and body politics. Her research has appeared in academic publications, been presented at international conferences, and received recognition through distinguished awards, including the Martin Hatch Prize from the Society for Asian Music, the Future Generation Korean Studies Paper Excellence Award from the Academy of Korean Studies, the Angela J. and James J. Rallis Memorial Award, and the Clarimond Mansfield Award in Arts & Sciences from the Center for the Humanities at Boston University.
Dr. Lee has taught at the University of Toronto, Boston University, Brandeis University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Yoona Kim is an ajaeng player, composer, and educator from Seoul, currently based in Boston. Known for her innovative performances that uniquely blend traditional Korean music with contemporary genres, she has been recognized for her groundbreaking work. Yoona began her journey into Korean traditional music at the age of 8, starting with gayageum and Minyo (traditional folk songs), She studied ajaeng performance and Musicology at Seoul National University, further solidifying her deep knowledge of music.
Beyond ajaeng, She has continued to explore a wide range of Korean traditional instruments and genres. She studied Pansori(traditional Korean narrative singing) and Pansori Gobeob (drum performance) with Jeong Cheol-ho, a holder of Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 5. In 2015, she became captivated by Jeongga (traditional Korean vocal music) and began composing original works based on both Jeongga and Jeongak (classical Korean court music). Her broad exploration of vocal-based traditional music has led Yoona to develop her own unique interpretation of Korean traditional music.
She leads several artistic projects that fuse traditional music with modern sensibilities. She founded the contemporary Korean music group Moderngagok, which has been praised for its innovative approach, combining modern songwriting with traditional Korean music. Recently, she founded The Global Yiddish Orchestra (GYO), a modern Klezmer ensemble, and The Global String Band JOOL, which blends Korean traditional music with American Old-time music. Additionally, she released the album Delta Dokkaebi, a collaboration with Alma Vatya that merges traditional Korean music with Delta blues. As WBUR, Boston's National Public Radio, puts it: “Instead of creating a forced fusion, the two singers/musicians dive deep into American and Korean traditions, showing the natural connection between these musical forms.” The band has performed at prestigious venues such as the Smithsonian Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), and is preparing for both West Coast and East Coast tours.
As an educator, Yoona Kim teaches Korean music and contemporary music at institutions such as the New England Conservatory, Wellesley College, and Seoul National University. She inspires students to explore the intersection of traditional Korean music and modern musical perspectives, encouraging creative and in-depth musical exploration.
Yoona Kim has been recognized for her artistic contributions, receiving the 2023 Peter Row Global Musicianship Award and the 2025 EM Alumni Award. Currently, she is expanding her musical range as a full scholarship student at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute and is preparing to release her first jazz Ajaeng album, influenced by jazz and free jazz, in the second half of 2025.
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Yeyun Jang
Yeyun Jang is a trailblazing Piri performer and composer who bridges the gap between tradition and innovation. With a deep foundation in Korean traditional music and a bold vision for the future, she seamlessly blends the soul of Korean heritage with the expressive freedom of jazz, world music, and film scoring. Through her work, she pushes creative boundaries, redefining the role of the Piri in contemporary music.
Having studied Korean traditional music since the age of six, Yeyun graduated from the National Korean Traditional Music Middle and High Schools in Korea. At Berklee, she immersed herself in jazz improvisation, composition, and global music fusion, collaborating with esteemed artists across genres. A major milestone in her journey was performing at Carnegie Hall on October 29, 2023, alongside classical musicians. Additionally, she contributed to a composition performed at the same venue, further deepening her growth as both a performer and composer.
As a member of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) and its Big Band, Yeyun has refined her improvisational techniques and orchestration skills while working alongside world-class jazz musicians. She is also part of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice (JGJ), where she explores jazz as a platform for cultural dialogue and innovation. These experiences have expanded her musical vocabulary, allowing her to integrate the Piri into contemporary jazz ensembles in groundbreaking ways.
Yeyun draws profound inspiration from legendary musicians such as McCoy Tyner, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer—especially Zimmer’s seamless integration of traditional instruments like the Duduk into cinematic soundscapes. His approach reinforced her belief that music transcends genre boundaries, opening doors to new sonic possibilities.
Awards & Honors (2025)
• Award Winner, Boston International Composition Competition (BICC)
• 1st Place (Composition & Performance Categories), World Melody Music Competition