On August 26, the International Association for Differently Abled Cultural Exchange (board chair: Choi Gong-yeol) held the Seoul Differently Abled Choir Festival at the Art Hall of Seoul Women’s Plaza on Yeoeuidaebang-ro, Seoul. Four teams of specially talented persons competed in the festival.
The first performance was by Onsarang Choir. Established by Onnuri Community Church and Onnuri Welfare Foundation in 2011, Onsarang Choir is composed of persons with developmental disabilities. They sang the required song “Spring of My Hometown” and their choice “The River in My Heart” (photo), and received a big ovation.
The next entry was Nanuri Choir, made up of adults with brain lesions. Nanuri was formed in 2010, and won first place in the National Differently Abled Choir Competitions in 2012. The song of their choice was “Echo of Love.”
Seoul Pureuname Choir, established in 2011, sang “Up To Where You Are,” followed by Ebenezer Choir, founded in 1988, which sang “Amazing Grace.”
In addition, there were special performances by the hobby group Movement LIFE Saxophones, the pop-cappella group of five classical singers One Dollar, the boys and girls idol group A-DEAN, and the Charity Choir of Hanbit Welfare Foundation.
Mr. Kim Un-shik (49), from Suseo-dong, Seoul, commented, “Besides their singing performance, I was moved by the way the participants have accepted their disabilities and done their best.” Mr. Kim Chang-su (71) from Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do, said, “I felt more grateful for my own circumstances, as I spent this enjoyable time together, listening to their music.”
Ebenezer Choir won first place on this day. Board Chair Choi Gong-yeol said, “This choir festival was designed for differently abled persons and others to communicate and exchange through songs… As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of national liberation, I want to express my thanks to every single person who has helped this meaningful event to take place.”
Reporter Pyeong Seon Jeon (junbs@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok
Click here for the original article in Korean
Seoul Differently Abled Choir Festival Commemorates 70th Anniversary of National Liberation
2015-08-27 16:23
