Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Kyoungmin Park is the first Korean to join the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO). Courtesy of BPO |
By Do Je-hae
One of the highest honors as a budding string musician is to join the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), considered one the world's most respected ensembles since its founding in 1882.
Korean violist Kyoungmin Park has become the center of attention in the Korean classical music community by becoming the first Korean to gain admission into the prestigious orchestra as a full-time member.
The orchestra recently announced the appointment, which makes her the only Korean member in the BPO in its 138-year history. In contrast, there are several Japanese musicians in the orchestra, including one of its current concertmasters. Park's admission to the BPO is expected to give hope to young Korean musicians who are planning a future in the top German orchestra.
Her appointment comes at a very exciting time for the orchestra as it embarks on a new musical leadership under the Russian-Austrian conductor Kirill Petrenko. The new musical director has been leading the orchestra since the 2019-2020 season. He follows in the venerable footsteps of Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle.
In a recent interview posted on BPO's Facebook, Park said that she has longed to become a member since she first played Schumann with the orchestra when she was 18. "Since then I really wanted to be a part of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. I kept that dream and now here I am," Park said.
"To be the first Korean musician ever in the Berlin Philharmonic, to be honest, I still feel like I'm dreaming."
"Kyoungmin Park has passed her probationary period and is now a member of the orchestra," the BPO said in a statement. "Born in South Korea, she first played the violin before changing to the viola. In 2003, she went to study in Vienna. In addition, she attended master classes held by Wilfried Strehle, the former principal violist of the Berliner Philharmoniker, who introduced her to the sound ideal of the orchestra."
