<![CDATA[The Gugak Jazz Society 국악 재즈 소사이어티 - IGJI Archive]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:26:29 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The GreeKorea Documentary Released!]]>Thu, 20 May 2021 18:25:51 GMThttps://www.igji.org/igji-archive/the-greekorea-documentary-released
We feel truly grateful to be able to share with you the very final result of the GreeKorea project. Here is the documentary, which is our story.  Hope this resonates with your hearts in a very special way.
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"Everyone’s story resembles another’s, and it is our hope that this music can inspire you to think about how to live together even when we face conflicts and differences. ... Life is improvisational, replete with unanticipated and astonishing events. We improvise to find creative solutions in the moment. We keep trying."
(from the GreeKorea "Greeting the Moon" album booklet)
]]><![CDATA[The GreeKorea "Greeting the Moon" Album Released]]>Fri, 07 May 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.igji.org/igji-archive/the-greekorea-greeting-the-moon-album-released
The GreeKorea "Greeting the Moon" album is now available both in the USA and Korea.  Our heartfelt thanks to the Arts Council Korea for the sponsorship, which made this project alive even under the Pandemic.  Thank you for your loving support for our music, and we look forward to playing this music live soon! ​ 
]]><![CDATA[The GreeKorea Documentary Premiered at the Somerville Museum]]>Thu, 06 May 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.igji.org/igji-archive/the-greekorea-documentary-premiered-at-the-somerville-museum
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The GreeKorea project documentary was premiered at the Somerville Museum on Thursday, May 6, 2021, the day before the US release.  It was such a touching moment of reflecting on our long journey on the project and sharing our stories with the audiences in Boston.  A special thanks to the Somerville Museum, for the warm invitation and invaluable partnership!~  Thank you, the Somerville Times and Boston Korea, for the wonderful articles on the premiere!
]]><![CDATA[Mina Cho selected as the Artist of the Month by the Somerville Arts Council]]>Fri, 07 Aug 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.igji.org/igji-archive/mina-cho-selected-as-the-artist-of-the-month-by-the-somerville-arts-council
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We are happy to announce that Mina Cho has been selected as the Artist of the Month by the Somerville Arts Council!  Please take a moment to read the interview with Mina to know more about her musical journey and passion.

From the interview:
"... At the very first chapel I attended, I opened the door and there was a very old grand piano. Instantly, inside I almost cried, because in my final year of high school, my parents had to sell the piano, and I had continued to practice at our church at night. So seeing the piano was very touching. At the time, I had kind of given up on dreaming of being a pianist. But looking at the piano, I felt God was telling me to follow my heart.

During the service, there was a group singing Psalm 23. It was a mind-shifting moment, and I thought, if I ever do music again, I want to create the kind of music that touched my heart in that way. Everyone I met at the university in the theology department challenged me. Musically, I was very technically advanced, but spiritually immature, and these teachers and colleagues were inspiring.

I started looking for a jazz piano teacher. There was no big ambition at first—I just wanted to be able to accompany beautiful singing with beautiful chords. Though I had dreamed of becoming a classical artist, I also liked many of the popular artists in the 90’s like Mariah Carey, and secretly played their music. Then, being challenged by my friends at university, I started to go ahead and do what I wanted to do. ... So my journey as a jazz pianist began when I gave up the journey as a classical pianist. ..."
Full Interview
]]><![CDATA[Performance at Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2020 21:55:52 GMThttps://www.igji.org/igji-archive/performance-at-museum-of-fine-arts-mfa-boston

Photos taken by Sang Kim
On February 1, 2020, the Gugak Jazz Society members in Boston (Mina cho – piano, Doyeon Kim – gayageum, Max Ridley – bass) were invited to perform at Alfond Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to celebrate the Lunar New Year.  This event was organized by Korean Cultural Society of Boston (KCSB) and featured a clever fusion of jazz and earthy gugak (traditional Korean music) and performances in traditional Korean dress by Janet Park and by the Boston Korean Traditional Dance group, led by Jessica Park.

A special thanks to KCSB for a warm invitation! 
Boston Korea Article
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