Peace concert at Chungju music house draws artists from 10 countries

Musicians and artists from more than 10 countries gathered April 25 at a restored traditional Korean hanok in Chungju for the annual "Open Heart Open Stage" peace concert, The Korea Times reported.

The gathering at Ureuk World Music House — built by a New York-born musician who put down roots in provincial South Korea — illustrates how arts communities can flourish across borders, a theme that resonates with Korean-American diaspora readers worldwide, including those across Southern California.

The concert was hosted by Anna Cybele, a New York-born musician who owns Ureuk World Music House — a restored hanok at the foot of a forested hill in Chungju. Performers played ukulele, harmonica, cello, handpan, violin and the traditional Korean ajaeng. Attendees contributed homemade dishes for a shared potluck meal, and chai was served as the sun set, according to The Korea Times.

"So many kind and happy people, strangers who instantly became friends, gathered and brought amazing home-cooked food, and sang and danced, and hugged and laughed," Cybele said. For her, the annual festival is about more than performance. "Coming together in peace and love, in meaningful and fun ways, is a blessing," she said. "That's what the annual 'Open Heart, Open Stage' is all about."

Among the performers was Peter James, a 74-year-old Canadian musician who has lived in Korea for more than 20 years under his Korean name Park Ban-seok. James first sang on radio at age 5 in 1957 and won a world bluegrass championship in 1997. He performed alongside his Korean wife, Lisa. "Music is a gift, and when we are given a gift, we have to share it with the world," James said. He added that music holds "a unique power to unite people beyond borders, cultures and beliefs" and serves as "a bridge between individuals and communities." Asked about his sense of identity, James kept it simple: "My favorite race is the human race."

Also on stage was Amir, an Iranian musician who arrived in Korea in August 2023 as a biomedical master's student and is now pursuing a doctorate. Amir has played the handpan for about six years. "A few months ago, I met Cybele at an art exhibition, and we quickly became friends," he told The Korea Times. "It was through this connection that I found myself participating in this new creative space called Ureuk World Music House."

The next event at the venue is scheduled for May 23 at 4 p.m. and will feature New York-based Korean diaspora painter Sungmo Cho's "Along the LOVE Road" exhibition series. Cho, who has not visited Korea in 14 years, plans additional exhibits in Seoul, Busan and Buyeo.

Ureuk World Music House, nestled at the foot of a forested hill in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, hosts international artists and is open to the public throughout the year.