TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province ― The southern port city of Tongyeong is the hometown of one of the country’s most beloved classical music composers, Isang Yun. Now, the city’s backdrop of a crisp blue coast and vibrant seaside life is being reinvigorated with the kickoff of the annual Tongyeong International Music Festival.

In its annual homage to the late Yun, TIMF opened its curtains this season on March 27 for a 10-day, 19-performance run, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the patron’s death. 


Two decades after the passing of the Korean-German composer, who was praised for his constant struggle to bridge the musical gap between Europe and Asia, the festival is honoring his contribution to the country’s musical fortitude through this year’s theme, “Voyage.”

Making her own personal voyage to this year’s festival was Korean-American violinist and Colorado Symphony Concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams.

As part of the TIMF’s opening performance Friday night, local audiences were eager to satisfy their first-ever glimpse of the 44-year-old Korean-born musician, who made her first return home after moving to the U.S. at age 9.

“Everyone asked me, ‘What took you so long?’ And I have been wondering the same thing,” said Hwang-Williams during an interview with The Korea Herald. 

Under the leadership of conductor Dennis Russell Davies of the 139-year-old Sinfonieorchester Basel Orchestra of Switzerland, the violinist was invited to perform alongside the renowned orchestra, touring as a featured soloist.

Not only did the full-time concertmaster decide to make a rare appearance as a soloist, but the violinist was also given the poetically well-timed opportunity to bring one of Yun’s masterpieces to life ― Violin Concerto No. 3.

“With such an invitation, you don’t say no,” she said. “I couldn’t have imagined or dreamed of a better scenario than to be able to come here and perform the Yun concerto with the Basel Symphony.”

Playing alongside the historical orchestra in Yun’s 26-minute long concerto, Hwang-Williams ― with her impassioned stage presence and clean vibrato ― made it clear why Strings Magazine dubbed her a “modern Prometheus.”

Aside from the weight of appeasing the expectations of locals with her first-ever performance in Korea, the musician had to face the even more daunting task of performing one of Yun’s masterpieces in his hometown ― in front of his wife and daughter, no less.

“I was so busy preparing for the concert that I was not at all prepared for my emotional response to coming home,” she added, holding back her tears. “I have just been very stirred and overwhelmed … I still need time to process everything.”

“It has been like a personal voyage,” the musician explained. “Me going to the Yun Memorial was extremely touching and moving, and that set the stage for the day, because I normally take a nice nap before a concert, but I couldn’t sleep a wink. I was just charged up and excited.”

TIMF will continue to hold daily concerts throughout the week, including a performance by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Qautuor Diotima and select soloist from Kumho Asiana.

The festival will close on April 5 with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra’s finale concert featuring the late Yun’s Reak, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. The orchestra will be led by conductor Christoph Poppen and joined by Latvian classical violinist Gidon Kremer and Chilean soprano Carolina Ullrich.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)