G-HWAJA MUSIC Band
G-Hawaja performs creative music through a collaboration of Western and Korean traditional instruments, melding disparate tones and styles. The group seeks to express the emotions of the times in a dramatic way by utilizing the uniquely expressive characteristics of Korean traditional music - particularly its sense of excitement known as Hueng and the bittersweet sense of grief known as Han - to deliver familiar music with new emotional dimensions. G-Hwaja strives to popularize Korean traditional music by delivering a dynamic and vivid image of Korean to the modern world. Since its creation, G-Hwaja had its first performance at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Junghee Oh 오정희 (가야금, 보컬)
Ms. Jung-Hee Oh is a Korean traditional music artist in ‘Gayageum Byeong-chang’ (singing with self-accompaniment of the Gayageum instrument) and ‘Pansori’ (a traditional storytelling performed by a solo vocalist accompanied by a drummer). Ms. Oh is recognized as a Korean government National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certified trainee in Gayageum with song and ‘sanjo.’ She had performances in numerous significant musical events and was featured as the main guest in many Korean Cultural events in prominent institutions. She received her master’s degree in Korean music from Chung-Ang University in Seoul Korea. She currently serves as the music director of the music band G-Hwaja and performing artist based in the NY & NJ metropolitan area
You Shin Kim 김유신 (키보드, 작곡 편곡)
You Shin Kim is a composer of the song “Mother,” Sung by Seung Chul Lee, one of the most famous top singers in Korea. He released his own albums, `Thankfulness’ and ‘The Road’. Mr. Kim works as a producer, songwriter, lyricist, arranger and performer. He is a musician who is active in the music world with fusion music that combines various genres by digesting various colors of music such as classical, pop, and jazz, as well as traditional Korean music. Mr. Kim was the main host of AM1660 radio station, “New York Arirang”, for two years and a guest for FM87.7 K-radio for several months. He is also a composer, arranger, and keyboardist of the fusion Korean traditional group, G-Hwaja.
In addition, Mr. Kim is a music composer and arranger for the musical, 'King David', which will be staged in LA in June 2022. He arranged and performed in a YouTube channel with Michelle Kim, vice-concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Kim also arranged and played piano in recordings with Jennifer Jeon for her CD album and her YouTube videos that surpassed 64 million views. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in Film Scoring Major.
Grace Leekyung Kang 강리경(해금)
Grace Leekyung Kang, a renowned haegeum artist, leads a multi-faceted career that encompasses her musical influences as a performer, both as a soloist and chamber musician, and her vocation as a scholar.
Awarded Gold Prize at the Nan-Gye Korean Traditional Music Competition.
Grace Kang held a recital titled “Haegeum for the Heart” at the Korea Society in New York in 2010. In a collaboration with New York artist Joo Hyun Park, Grace Kang was featured in a Jazz-Haegeum album,“When Jazz Guitar Met Haegeum”, in 2014.
An alumna of Gugak National High School, Kang received a B.A. and double M.A. in music and education from Yong-In University, and she earned a Ph.D. in traditional Korean music at Han-Yang University in 2015.
Her album, Haegeum praise album “Place in My Heart,” were released in 2022 and Haegeum creative album single, “Beautiful and Splendid,” Part 1, Part 2 in 2023. Currently, Dr. Kang is a member of music band G-Hwaja, and the successor for the lyrics of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Decree No. 41. As an ambassador for traditional Korean culture, haegeum performer Grace Leekyung Kang shares her music through her deeply touching artistry and voice.
Song Eun Shin 신송은 (25현 가야금)
Graduated bachelor's and master's degree from Chung-Ang University, Song Eun Shin is a winner of Seoul Gayaguem Competition. She has established her reputation as having outstanding performance and detailed expressions of the unique musical language. In addition, Ms. Shin has been a pioneer in spreading the sound of Gayageum across the world. She started to play Gayageum when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Korean National Traditional Arts High School and received bachelor's and master's degree from Chung-Ang University with top honors. She won Seoul Gayageum Competition and has continued to advance her career through great concerts and performances, including Shanghai Expo, the G20 Summit, and Hong Kongnational holiday events.
