The KF Cheonggyecheon Music Festival 2015 was successfully held in downtown Seoul in the autumn sunshine on the Hangeul Day weekend (October 9-11). This year’s festival was organized in connection with the “Korea Festival in MIKTA,” a comprehensive cultural program presented by the Foundation to introduce Korea to the international community. Artists from the member countries of this association of five middle powers – Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia – were invited to the music festival to stage a diverse array of performances.
[Friday, October 9: 3:30 pm] ![[photo] Paulina Y El Buscapie of Mexico (left) opens the Festival program; Country Gongbang, a bluegrass music group from Korea (right).](/old/kf/namo/binary/images/002016/20151022182931632_Y9LYN5PJ.jpg)
Paulina Y El Buscapie from Mexico, a member country of MIKTA, opened the festival with energetic Mexican-style jazz music on the afternoon of October 9. Mexican Ambassador to the Republic of Korea José Luis Bernal Rodríguez and KF Executive Vice President Yoon Keum-jin graced the opening performance with their presence.
[Friday, October 9: 7:30 pm] ![[photo] Pascal Schumacher Quartet presenting clear and lucid sound led by vibraphone /[photo] Bulgarian idol Miryan Kostadinov](/old/kf/namo/binary/images/002016/20151022182935826_8U5DW755.jpg)
In the evening of October 9, the audience was immersed in waves of jazz music played by Pascal Schumacher Quartet, noted for its resonant vibraphone sounds. The closing performance of the first day of the festival was staged by Miryan Kostadinov. The singer from Bulgaria captivated the audience with his resounding vocals, matching the autumn season’s crispness.
[Saturday, October 10: 3:30 pm] ![[photo] Wolfgang Haffner Quartet, noted for its elaborate sense of rhythm and natural groove./[photo] KutiMangoes of Denmark share the stage with Korean Piri player Lee Suk-joo.](/old/kf/namo/binary/images/002016/20151022182939719_IA4X9FCU.jpg)
Rainy conditions in the morning cleared up ahead of the start of the afternoon performance on October 10, as people strolling along Cheonggyecheon Stream stopped by to enjoy the free festival music. The Wolfgang Haffner Quartet, led by the eponymous German drummer, received an enthusiastic reception from the audience for its passionate groove that was enough to offset the cooling autumn breeze. The session also featured a noteworthy joint performance by Piri player Lee Seuk-joo together with the KutiMangoes, a group known for its harmonious expression of the musical sentiments of Northern Europe and West Africa.
[Saturday, October 10: 7:30 pm] ![[photo] Juan Carmona presenting passionate and restrained flamenco rhythm /[photo] Bilal Karaman Band presents standard jazz melodies integrated with the traditions of Turkish music.”](/old/kf/namo/binary/images/002016/20151022182943899_X60S7XBJ.jpg)
On the evening of October 10, Juan Carmona played passionate flamenco rhythms that were accompanied by a lively dance performance, creating a high-energy atmosphere on an autumn night alongside Cheonggyecheon Stream. In addition, the Bilal Karaman Band presented their own brand of jazz combined with elements of traditional Turkish music.
[Sunday, October 11: 3:30 pm] ![[photo] Joint performance by Piri player Kwak Jae-hyuk and YK Samarinda playing a traditional Indonesian musical instrument./[photo] Alternative rock musician Miryan Kostadinov of Bulgaria gave a crowd-pleasing performance.](/old/kf/namo/binary/images/002016/20151022182950233_AIYVFRH8.jpg)
For the afternoon program on October 11, Bulgaria’s alternative rock musician Miryan Kostadinov performed a version of “I Am a Loner,” a song made popular by Korea’s CNBLUE, which received an enthusiastic response from the audience. Bulgarian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Peter Andonov attended the performance to offer encouragement to the performer from Bulgaria. This was followed by a joint performance by YK Samarinda of Indonesia and Kwak Jae-hyuk of Korea. The featured instruments included the traditional Indonesian lute, sapeh, and the traditional Korean reed instrument, piri. The harmonious melodies served as a unique example of cross-cultural exchange through the universal language of music.
[Sunday, October 11: 7:30 pm] ![[photo] Norwegian top band Farmers Market performing for grand finale of the festival / [photo] Mexican band Paulina Y El Buscapie (left); festival visitors line up for coffee from a snack truck (right)](/old/kf/namo/binary/images/002016/20151022182954856_EM67B2ZS.jpg)
The evening performance on the final day of the festival began with Paulina Y El Buscapie, the group that had opened the festival on Friday. They presented Mexican-style jazz while playing handmade traditional Mexican musical instruments. Thereafter, Farmers Market, one of the hottest musical groups in Norway, played jazz standards with an element of whimsical humor for which the group is known, closing out this year’s festival in grand style.
