PALO ALTO, CA (10/29)- Less than 4 miles from the Stanford University campus musicians from across the globe gathered at the Covenant Presbyterian Church for what was described as “Love, Peace & Harmony Music”. Ray Choi, founder of the KAAG in 2022 and 4-time winner of the 2024 Autoharp International Championship winner further stated about the group, "It is amazing that we can sing about joy, sorrow, and happiness by drawing melodies on the staff of our lives. Sometimes we gain strength through music and sometimes we shed tears of emotion. However, if you think about it carefully, it is not easy for anyone to dream of playing an instrument at least once in the 100-year era. There are many popular instruments, folk instruments, and many types of modern digital instruments, but learning and playing your own instrument requires courage and determination...." Korean American Autoharp Group (KAAG) President Yeonghye Kang, “With this beautiful-tone instrument called the piano of the mountains, music lovers gather together to learn, hold regular concerts, and volunteer to share warm love with neighbors in need. In particular, we visit marginalized neighbors, prisons, nursing homes, etc. to comfort and play music in order to create a bright and hopeful community through communication through music. The Korean American Autoharp Group (KAAG), was established in 2022, and has been hosting annual charity concerts. In 2022, their first concert aimed to support Ukrainian refugee children. In 2023, it focused on helping leprosy patients in the Republic of Burundi. For 2024, KAAG intends to continue supporting the people of Burundi, as well as provide empowerment and education for the visually impaired. Working together to accomplish these goals is both rewarding and fulfilling, as they are efforts no one could achieve alone…” According to SFKorean, the performance program included special guest performances by legendary performers and Four Marys by Gloria Team (San Jose, Chae Je-sika, Jang Jae-won, Nam Hwa-ja, Lee Jeong-ae), Annie Laurie by Ayeomo Team (San Jose, Kang Young-hye, Kang Jeong-ae, Kim Gyeong-ja, Park Jeong-ja, Park Jeong-sook, Lim Seung-ju, Lee Deok-soon, Shin Geum-rye, Hwang Hye-gyeong, Kim Heon-sook, Hong Jun-hee, Chae Seon-hee, Kani Jeong), Morning has broken by Joo Chan-yang Team (San Jose, Julie Kim, Kim Soon-ok), Take Me Home and Country Roads by Ullim Team (Virginia, Lee Maria, Kim Hwa-sook, Choi Jeong-gyu), Ah Mok-dong-ah by Somang Team (San Jose, Baek Yeong-hee, Oh Hye-sook, Oh Myeong-ryeol, Kim Soon-bong), and Valley & River medley (Down in the Valley, Red River Valley, Swanee River) by Harp Mania Team (Maryland, Kim Mi-ja, Jo Jeong-sook, Jeong Eun-ok, Lee Ok-soon, Yoon Geon-ah). Quarencia Team (Sacramento, Nam Sae-mi, Joo Kyung-sook, Kim Yu-jin, Lee Yu-bin, Spring Oh, Sandra Choo) performed Whisper of Hope and Byulbit Duo (Los Angeles, Sunny Kim, Jeon Jong-ha) performed Sound of Silence. In addition, the performances of specially invited Tina Louise Barr (world-class autoharp player, MAMA winner, CAG Lifetime Achievement Award winner), Carey Dubbert (International Autoharp Hammer Del Cima Championship winner, MLAG champion, CAG Lifetime Achievement Award), and Lucille Reilly (Autoharp Hall of Fame member, MLAG, International Autoharp Hammer Del Cima Champion) showcased a new charm of the autoharp.
Furthermore, we are striving for Global KAAG to leap forward in order to achieve the vision of changing the world with gentle power in places where there is emotional exhaustion due to the new normal digital generation. As a Global Project, we help children with poor educational environments in the world grow into good-spirited children by passing on the autoharp, a traditional American instrument that was introduced to Korea by American missionaries long ago. The philosopher Plato said, “Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to all things.” The philosopher Plato once said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” KAAG is an academy that systematically trains leaders of each group, and the leaders respect the individuality of the team and teach them formally to systematically grow. The autoharp, which was established as an authentic American instrument 140 years ago, is easy to learn and gives happiness by producing the sound of a small orchestra with just one button pressed. KAAG is an organization that creates shared values by learning together through the autoharp, warmly looking forward to the new world, and sharing and serving...." Chongsook Park of San Francisco enthusiastically noted, “I just joined the group. I’m just glad to have been able to join them. I love the music. I love the gathering of people together. I love the harmony and the songs. I love it all!” Similarly, Brian Kim Su said of the performance, “It’s really nice. It was well put together!” Grace Chang of Milpitas added, “It’s very beautiful, the autoharp, the harmony with the different groups coming together to become one harmony was impressive. It’s very calming!” Soonyi Cho of Los Gatos said, “It was a wonderful event, a good concert, very professional with musicians , some of whom have played for over 40+ years, along with the president of the group who has played for over 30+ years…” “It’s a lot of fun. It was very enjoyable. It was very different from a traditional concert, plus they got to raise money for a very good cause….” Said Mary P. of Mountain View, California. Echoing that sentiment, Janet of Los Gatos, California stated, “There was a lot of talent on the Autoharp. I couldn’t have imagined an event like this!” Taylor of Los Gatos stated, “The autoharp sounds great! It’s a beautiful instrument!” Junseo of Sacramento added, “I loved it! I loved how everything went pretty smoothly!” The autoharp, a unique American instrument introduced by the Korea-America Autoharp Association (KAAG), is a chromatic instrument with a structure very similar to the piano, and is one of the few instruments that can play melody and rhythm at the same time, like the guitar and piano. It has a range of about 2 ½ octaves and can be played with a unique clarity and clear tone melody with beautiful arpeggio harmony, making it suitable for playing hymns, classical music, ballads, folk songs, etc., ..."
Choi also added, “This was a very meaningful event as a Korean-American. Playing American instruments such as the autoharp was quite meaningful for us, and with the performers as well. It was really great to see such dedicated performances. Some of the performers came as far away as Colorado, and from across all of California. , from Sacramento all the way to Los Angeles…. I really appreciate how everyone donated their time and effort at making this event work….” Autoharp performer Tina Louise Barr praised the event, noting, “It was a wonderful event, gathering with friends. Some were new ones, others are ones that I have long known and enjoyed as part of a larger community and a wonderful group. It was great to be with a group of people and friends who clearly enjoy themselves….” Similarly, musician Carey Dubbert noted, “It was fabulous. I love seeing so many people having fun and enjoying themselves, as well as smiling about what they’re doing while playing the autoharp!” Juhi Lee of Fremont observed about the autoharp, “It was very beautiful! You don’t get to hear it very often!” Michael Kim of San Jose stated, “I really enjoyed it! It was wonderful! I was really surprised. There was so much music from such a small space and small instrument. I really enjoyed it!” Rebekah Lee of San Francisco stated, “It was great! I liked it! I especially loved the work by the teacher! My heart was lifted! I liked it!” Jee Kim of San Francisco simply added, “It’s great!” Yung Kyung Han of Sunnyvale, California who served as Emcee, Master of Ceremonies, for the event summed up the sentiment saying, “It was very beautiful, energetic and splendid!” |
