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The Day The Music Didn't Die
Sometimes, even in the unpredictable world of academia, optimism is rewarded. A case in point is Professor Dong Suk Kim, director of the Korean music ensemble in UCLA's ethnomusicology department.
Two summers ago, when Professor Kim received word that his entire budget had been cut, he did not get discouraged.
"I was shocked when I found out the Music of Korea program was to be eliminated," said Professor Kim. "It's by far the biggest ethnic music ensemble here at UCLA. To have it disappear would be unreal."
A Difficult Choice
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| Professor Dong Suk Kim |
Unfortunately, the Korean ensemble's demise was almost certain, due to the State of California 's fiscal crisis. "It was a very difficult choice," says Tim Rice, former chair of UCLA's ethnomusicology department. "We knew what a popular program the Music of Korea had become, mostly due to Dong Suk Kim's efforts."
Professor Kim's students echoed their enthusiasm for the class.
"This course has meant so much more than learning how to play an instrument," states Soon Young Chun, a business and economics major. "I've learned about my Korean heritage, history and culture, and have enjoyed performing for the community."
In addition to giving concerts on campus, the UCLA Korean ensemble has performed in civic venues all around Los Angeles, including the Hollywood Bowl.
Ji Eun Kim, a senior economics major, recalled a poignant concert in a home for Korean senior citizens. "As we started to play, some of the seniors began to cry and we could tell our music was connecting with them in a very emotional way. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever felt."
Knowing how much the program meant to his students, Professor Kim did not give up hope for keeping it alive. "I knew that the community wouldn't let us down," he says. |
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| UCLA's Music of Korea ensemble presents a variety of styles of court and folk music. |
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A Powerful Pitch for Support
Kim used his long-running radio show in Los Angeles to make a pitch for support for the Korean music program at UCLA. A one-day telethon on Korean Independence Day raised $50,000, mostly in small gifts and pledges. More media picked up the story, including the Los Angeles-based Korean Times, as well as Korean overseas wire sources.
That exposure prompted two major corporations to offer their support to UCLA.
"The head of the SeoJeon Institute, a scholastic preparation firm in Korea, called me," says Professor Kim. "I had never met him before, but he offered to make a gift of $50,000 with the promise to support the ensemble annually." Professor Kim flew to Korea to accept the check. "It was a lovely ceremony," he recalls.
All together, Professor Kim and his supporters have raised more than $200,000 for the Korean music ensemble. Thanks to their successful efforts, he is now on staff full-time at UCLA and the ensemble is going strong.
Students were grateful to hear the news, including engineering major Michael Exner. "What's wonderful about the Korean music ensemble is that it attracts students from so many different backgrounds—Caucasian and African-American, as well as Asian students."
"I want this to be a class in harmony in every respect," Professor Kim adds. "I always tell my students, if you bang your own drum too loudly, you can't hear what anyone else is doing."
 Contact Sheila Bergman at 310-825-2512 for information about how you can support the arts at UCLA.
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