Join us for a powerful performance by G–Hwaja, a dynamic quintet rooted in Korean traditional music. Drawing from centuries-old sounds and instruments, G–Hwaja brings a vivid and contemporary energy to Korea’s musical heritage. Their sound subtly bridges tradition and modern expression.
The ensemble members are:
Junghee Oh, 12-string gayageum and byeongchang vocals
Song Eun Shin, 25-string gayageum
Woosung Jung, daegeum, sogeum and taepyeongso
Heejung Han, haegeum
You Shin Kim, piano
PEM Presents seeks to surprise and delight audiences with world-class artistry in music, theater, dance, film and more. This series allows audiences to learn about the artistic process and supports the development of artists with local, regional, national and global perspectives. PEM Presents further activates the museum as a global center for art, culture and creativity with artist residencies, live performances, lecture series, symposia and conferences. PEM Presents is a collaboration between Learning and Community Engagement and the Present Tense initiative.
PEM Presents is made possible by The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation.
About our collaborators
G–Hwaja
G–Hwaja performs creative music using a combination of Western and Korean traditional instruments, melding disparate tones and styles. The group seeks to express the emotions of the times in a dramatic way by utilizing the uniquely expressive characteristics of Korean traditional music — particularly its sense of excitement known as Hueng and the bittersweet sense of grief known as Han — to deliver familiar music with new emotional dimensions. G–Hwaja had its first performance at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.