Seoul, South Korea – The National Gugak Center's Creative Orchestra will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the passing of renowned composer Lee Sang-gyu with a special Korean traditional orchestral performance, 'Composer Series Ⅳ-Lee Sang-gyu', set to take place at the Yeakdang Theater on March 27th and 28th, 2025.

The 'Composer Series' is a prestigious stage dedicated to honoring the legacy of influential composers who have significantly contributed to the foundation of contemporary Korean traditional music.

This commemorative performance will feature some of Lee Sang-gyu's most iconic works, including 'Sinawi for 16 Percussion Instruments', the Haegeum Concerto 'Sunabwi', the Daegeum Concerto 'Daebaram Sori', and the Piri Concerto 'Jajinhannip'. Additionally, the program will include the premiere of 'Immortal Night', a piece commissioned to his eldest daughter, composer Lee Kyung-eun, as a special tribute.

The concert will showcase a lineup of exceptional musicians. Ahn Eun-kyung, the principal piri player of the National Gugak Center's Creative Orchestra, will be featured as a soloist, alongside esteemed professors Kim Jung-seung (daegeum) from Seoul National University and Kang Eun-il (haegeum) from Dankook University. Adding to the star-studded cast, masters Jung Jae-guk (piri), Lim Jae-won, professor emeritus of Seoul National University (daegeum), and Yang Kyung-sook, former professor of Seoul National University (haegeum), will also grace the stage.

Lee Sang-gyu's journey in traditional Korean music began as a daegeum student at the National Gugak Center's Gugaksa Training Center. He went on to contribute his talents to the Seoul Metropolitan Korean Traditional Orchestra and the National Gugak Center. His exceptional compositional skills were recognized early on, with awards from the 1st National Gugak Competition and the National Gugak Center's New Gugak Composition Contest. Lee Sang-gyu also made history as the first conductor of the KBS Korean Traditional Orchestra. Furthermore, he dedicated himself to educating future generations of musicians as a professor at the Department of Korean Music at Hanyang University.

This concert series not only pays homage to Lee Sang-gyu's remarkable contributions to Korean traditional music but also provides an opportunity for audiences to experience the depth and beauty of his compositions.