Unification News for June 2004

An Outstanding Second Generation Debut

Carnegie Hall, New York June 2nd

True Father suggested Carnegie Hall for ___s debut. He discovered her outstanding musical talent at age of 9. In 1997, True Father personally called Jun-Sook Nim to find a musical mentor to develop her skills as a violinist.

Jun-Sook Nim recommended Professor Albert Markov of the Julliard, New York. He is a world-renowned violinist. 5 years later, True Father asked to set up an incredible debut for her and give an unbelievable impact to the whole world. So, Father recommended to use one of the biggest musical halls at this time, June 2nd 2004. True Father is expecting successful concert.

True Father has supported ___ for 5 years, and her talent has now blossomed:

Father gave ___ scholarship to study violin in America, and she came. ___ has made tremendous musical studies with her spiritual dedication. In 2002, she received a special prize in South Korea for being the "Best Musician of the Year" because ___ was the youngest violinist ever to perform Paganini's 24 Caprices, which is the most difficult violin piece on stage. Even in the history of violin, only a few select individuals have performed this piece live on stage. On June 2nd 2004, ___ will perform 24 Caprices by Paganini. It should be noted that ___ is the youngest performer in the history of Concert Violin.

___'s grandfather, Young -Ki Moon, was the True Father's first cousin. He passed away to the spirit world in 1999 and True Parents gave him a special title called "Sim Jae," (True Brother at heart) because he was testifying True Father in the early days in North Korea, and until his death, he was always loyal and faithful to True Parents.

This is a very proud moment for our movement and to the second generations as a whole, because she will be presenting our church and our members in front of many people through beautiful music, on the stage. Therefore, it is hope that our members can feel proud and also can support ___ on this occasion by coming out and being a part of this historical event.

Hometown Pride

(This is an how Alison Bert, in ___s hometown newspaper, reported on her virtuosity: The Journal News, NY, June 1, 2004)

BREWSTER -- When ___ first traveled from South Korea to the United States at age 9, her parents took her to the Manhattan School of Music to audition for Russian-born violin virtuoso Albert Markov.

The master was unimpressed with her technique. She played for "fun rather than art," he recalled, and she didn't even know how to hold the violin and bow properly.

But Markov looked beyond her lack of refinement to test her musical ability. He played short tunes on the piano and asked her to find the notes on violin. She did, instantly.

"Most normal children cannot do it," he said. "After three minutes, it was clear to me that this girl was born to play violin. I suggested to the parents to take it very seriously."

They arranged for her to live in the United States and study with Markov.

Six years later, the 15-year-old Brewster High School sophomore is about to make her New York debut in Carnegie Hall. She will play the "24 Caprices, Opus 1," of Niccolo Paganini -- a demanding, unaccompanied 90-minute tome that few attempt in concert.

"It could be a world record," said Markov, who says she is the youngest violinist ever to perform all 24 caprices on stage, and the first in more than two decades to perform them in Carnegie Hall.

He calls it "the most challenging program that exists today." But ___'s interpretation goes beyond the demonic acrobatics Paganini displayed on violin, which led 19th-century concertgoers to purport that he acquired his virtuosity in a pact with the devil.

While ___ referred to the cycle as "a circus on violin," she said she and her teacher worked hard to capture the music's romantic and theatrical qualities. Practicing in her bedroom last week, she spoke of the different "characters" portrayed by each movement.

"It could be devil-like characters or angelic characters that you have to bring out," she explained.

She laughed when asked which she preferred. "I'd say those crazy ones. I'm pretty young and active."

She said the rapid-fire arpeggios in Paganini's first caprice -- which has her bow speeding across the strings at nearly 16 notes per second -- reminds her of the rumbling of a motorcycle.

But the plaintive strains of his 21st caprice, "Serenade," make her think of a love song. She closed her eyes and swayed as the phrases she played swelled and relaxed, a gentle vibrato pulsating through the romantic melodies.

On her violin made by Giulio Cesare Gigli of Rome in 1759, she plays with a rich tone that's a little too large and bright for her bedroom, but which will mellow as it sails through Carnegie Hall's spacious Isaac Stern Auditorium. She said it sounds "kind of bad" in her room, but that's a good thing.

"You can catch more mistakes in these dry (acoustics)," she said. "Once you go on-stage, it sounds better, so you feel good about it."

Listening to herself critically has become a routine for ___, who has a tutor so she can spend half-days in school and practice in the afternoon. She plays some phrases "over and over," said her aunt, Hajung Loveless.

___ is from a small town in South Korea called Chunchon. Before having a family, ___'s mother was a professional singer who had studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. ___ said she was given a violin at age 3 because she needed to play an instrument to get into preschool. But she played only "for fun."

That changed when her parents visited their relatives in Brewster and took her to play for Markov.

Markov arranged for her to board with people near his home in Rowayton, Conn., so she could take lessons several times a week. Because she didn't speak English, Markov said, he would "dance around her" to convey musical ideas. Soon, she became fluent.

Although her parents visited for extended periods, they still lived in Korea. While she didn't complain, her uncle in Brewster became concerned.

"I noticed that she seemed lonely," said Philip Loveless. "I felt that this must be difficult to be 10 or 11 years old, and her parents are going back and forth, and she's under a lot of pressure to play and practice. I said, 'Why don't you consider living with us?' "

Now, when she's not practicing, she likes to hang out with her cousins at home.

At school, ___ was "a hidden star" until concert posters went up recently, said her guidance counselor, Michael Marschner. "She is so modest and humble, I don't know how many students knew that she was quite that talented."

She has performed with orchestras in South Korea, Bulgaria, Italy and the United States. In 2002, she was recognized by the Arts Critics Association of Korea as Best Musician of the Year. Her compact discs include a recording of the Paganini caprices on the EMI label, to be released at tomorrow's concert.

As president of the Rondo Music Society in Norwalk, Conn., Markov arranged for the group to sponsor her Carnegie debut.

Markov, who trained with the world's top masters in the Russian and German methods, says his student is poised to represent "the new American school of violin." He said her approach combines the technical rigor and discipline of the German school, represented by Carl Flesch, with the "free and very individual approach to self-expression" displayed by Russian masters such as Jascha Heifetz.

But the legacy she is carrying on will likely be far from her mind tomorrow night.

"When I'm on-stage, it's like a dream for me," she said. "I don't quite think of what note to play or how to play. ... I don't think it's something that you should think about. It should come out naturally -- from your heart."

 Download entire page and pages related to it in ZIP format
Table of Contents
Information
Tparents Home