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Artist Introduction

Percussionist and performance planner Kim So Ra has been designated as North Jeolla Province’s intangible cultural heritage No. 7-2 (Jeongeup farmers’ music). Her music expresses Korean sentiment based on all sounds and rhythms.

In an attempt to globalize Korean traditional beats, she expresses and experiments with sensibilities of rhythm by disassembling traditional beats and collaborating with other genres. Every year, she has performed in and out of Korea, proving her energy and artistry of percussion music.

Rhythmically expressing contemporary sensibility with dynamic percussion music, she is called Chopin in the Korean traditional percussion scene. She became Korea’s first solo percussionist to be selected for official showcases at WOMEX 18 AND 2018 Mundial Montreal North America’s World Music Summit. Consequently, she began to draw global attention. , her first album and her most representative work, was nominated as the Best Jazz and Crossover Album at the 2019 Korean Music Awards. On this occasion, she was recognized as a percussionist expanding the realm of Korean percussion music. Based on diverse musical activities and experiences, Kim So Ra is going beyond Korean traditional music to be recognized as one of the most active percussionists and world musicians on the global scene.

Performance Detail

Since the old days, the janggu has been widely known as an instrument symbolizing rain. Through rain, the performance reflects on the forgotten flow and meaning of nature in order to find the true sounds and timbre we hear and forget in daily life. Not only by reorganizing beats but also by colorfully using sounds and techniques, the performance links the timbre of instruments and emotions of the performer either directly or indirectly to share them with the audience in this independent percussion piece centered on the janggu.