GIC Program Review
Ganbare Japan GIC May Concert was a hit! very year the Gwangju International Center hosts a benefit concert in May, with the mission of providing aid to other countries suffering from oppression or natural disasters. This year’s concert was a treat for the ears as well as a gift from the heart.
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On May 1 the GIC hosted a musical performance with the theme Folk Songs and Pop Songs. Tickets sold for 10,000 won apiece and all proceeds went to victims of the earthquake tragedy in Japan. Both professional and amateur musicians volunteered their talents in delivering a wonderful show to the audience at the Gwangju Culture and Arts center. The performance embodied a variety of sounds, arranged in such a way to provide a perfect mixture of musical genres. A brief yet poignant video about the plight of the Japanese people preceded the performance. Then the music started with the soothing sounds of the flute followed by delightful soprano tones, all accompanied perfectly by the grand piano. The soprano singers all had a style of their own, singing with majesty, deep-heartfelt tones and penetrating vocals. The solo violinist played an up-tempo, string snapping classical number and a solo piano piece was played with the precision of a virtuoso. The lone tenor of the night sang festively and left everyone grinning with his version of the Tom Jones hit Deliliah. The show was not finished until some local Gwangju expat contributors had their time under the spotlight. Dramatic and passionate songs were played by them with lyrics that echoed some of the sympathetic emotion that was felt throughout this benefit concert. There were also a few tunes which were uplifting in nature, injecting a little fun into the evening’s performance. To close out
the show, an elementary school choir wowed the crowd with their cute matching outfits and soft harmonious melodies. Olufemi Adeluyi was one of the expat performers who delighted the audience with his song sung in the Yoruba language which is native to southwest Nigeria. Regarding the performance, he had this to say, “I like singing and I believe in the GIC cause. As such, when I was asked to perform I was quite glad to, even though I knew the preps would be time consuming. I enjoyed the other performances and interacting with all the other performers. It was my first time attending the GIC May concert and I think it’s a laudable idea that gets us to think about the underprivileged people of the world.” This well organized event was an impressive, entertaining way to give help to those badly in need. Over 2,500,000 won was raised to benefit the victims in Japan, who are desperately trying to survive through their difficult situation caused by the terrible earthquake and tsunami. A great deal of appreciation goes out to the performers, the many people who donated money to the cause, and to the GIC for bringing everyone together for this benevolent purpose. By Stephen Redeker Photos by Stephen Redeker and Young-dae Kim
Gwangju News June 2011
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