Breaking barriers

Connecting cultures

A Chinese student from Beijing Normal University surnamed Guo, 21, said she really enjoyed the orchestra's latest show.

"I appreciate this style of performance because even though they may speak Korean, the music they create speaks to us all in a universal language. When they played Jasmine Flower, it easily resonated with us".

Chang Xinyi, a barista in Beijing, 23, was excited to learn more about Korean traditional instruments.

"It's so novel for me when I discover a brand new percussion piece which I cannot find in China. Everything in this place piques my curiosity and beckons me to explore further."

"In my view, getting in touch with different cultures can influence me in a positive way. The more you explore, the more beauty you will encounter in your life," Chang said.

The positive reaction from Chinese audiences was far beyond Choi's expectations, he said.

"It's a surprise for me that many Chinese people cried during the performance, they could feel the emotions of the singer."

The response was in line with one of Choi's main aims in staging the performance in Beijing — to convey a "universal expression of humanity" through music, he said.

"Our cultural history is similar to Chinese history, so I want the Chinese audiences to feel our music."

Looking ahead, Choi is planning for more performances in China and beyond. For that, he has two goals for the team's performances: to show and exchange their Korean traditional music, and to help visually impaired people live a good life.

"People have different appearances and cultures. But from music, we can understand other cultures," Choi said.

"We can contribute to world peace and harmony, we can be family."

Hu Xinyue contributed to this story.