College of Music Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary with the “Ewha Giving Thanks” Concerts in the U.S.
- 작성처
- Date2025.03.07
- 23648
Founded in 1925 as Korea’s first music department, the College of Music at Ewha celebrated its centennial with commemorative concerts titled “Ewha Giving Thanks” at Lancaster Methodist Church and Carnegie Hall in New York, from March 1 (Sat.) to 2 (Sun.).
Since its establishment in 1925, the College of Music has been at the forefront of change, taking on new challenges such as Gugak (Korean traditional music) education, the training of female musicians, opera productions, and the formation of an orchestra ensemble. In 1950, Professor Kim Ja-Kyung of the Department of Voice became the first Korean to hold a solo recital at Carnegie Hall. The college has continued its record of innovative growth, including the establishment of Korea's first female orchestra.
The concerts served as a stage to reflect on the musical achievements of the College of Music over the past 100 years and to pave the way for the next century. On Saturday, March 1, a heartfelt performance unfolded at Lancaster Methodist Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the church that dispatched Alice R. Appenzeller to Korea, the first Westerner born in Korea and the founder of Ewha College. Also the sixth principal of Ewha Haktang, Appenzeller dedicated herself to Ewha through efforts such as fundraising for the establishment and development of the Sinchon campus. It was through her efforts that the College of Music was founded, and this concert was held as a tribute to her devotion.
On Sunday, March 2, a special performance took place at Carnegie Hall in New York, a stage of dreams for performers worldwide. The event drew a full house of 600 attendees, including alumnae and supporters from the International Foundation for Ewha Womans University (IFEWU) and across the U.S.
The College of Music donated the entire proceeds from the Carnegie Hall performance to Lancaster Methodist Church and two other New York-based organizations: I Have a Dream, an educational group offering hope to marginalized communities, and Education Through Music, an organization focused on providing music education to underprivileged groups, thereby practicing Ewha’s spirit of sharing and service.
In addition, to commemorate the founding of Ewha, the College of Music will hold the “100th Anniversary Concert of the College of Music,” featuring all of its departments, on Wednesday, May 21 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. In addition to the concert, the college plans to organize a series of special and enriching centennial events to celebrate this milestone.