SSO Musicians Perform At Korean Community Church of Seattle

Seattle Symphony musicians continue their commitment to outreach in the wider Seattle Community
by Emma McGrath

On Sunday 17th January, 2010, Assistant Conductor Thomas Hong, Violist Sayaka Kokubo, and Associate Concertmaster Emma McGrath took an adventurous trip to the Korean Community Church of Seattle in Bothell, WA.

As a church with a congregation of around 5,000 people, this was quite the experience. No less than four separate services are held here every Sunday morning, as well as numerous Sunday School classes and seminars. Several big screen televisions are hoisted on the walls, and Choirs and various bands are piped through a sophisticated sound system. The musicians were warmly welcomed by Pastor Kwon and other members of the church.

Thomas, Sayaka, and Emma were invited to perform at this church by Mr. Yoshi Minegishi, a member of the Seattle Symphony's Board of Directors. Mr. Minegishi had the foresight to cultivate a connection between the musicians of the SSO, and the large Korean Christian community in Washington, which has a congregation of 15,000 in the Greater Seattle area alone. Hopefully this performance will be the first of many, and the beginning of an exciting and fruitful relationship.

Members of the SSO are delighted to come out and perform in diverse communities, and welcome all those that hear us to visit us at our beautiful Benaroya Hall home.

Please enjoy a video of this live performance: Andante from Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major, K. 364, for Violin, Viola, and Piano.