ⓒ 2013 WATV

‘“Healing Concert with Mother’s Heart” is being held at the Churches of God throughout Korea. The Church of God Messiah Orchestra Ensemble prepared the concert to provide the church members with a precious opportunity to restore broken relationships between their family members and neighbors, and also to give strength and courage to people in need of warm comfort and love in modern society.

Starting from the Nowon Church in Seoul on July 17th, the concert was held at the Gangdong Church in Seoul, the Pyeongtaek Church, the Siheung Church, and the Paldal Church in Suwon until the end of the month. In August, the concert was held at the Yeongdeungpo Church in Seoul and the Chuncheon Church on the 11th, and continued at the Jungang Church in Ansan, the Gwangju Church in Gyeonggi, the Ilsan Church, the Jinjeop Church in Namyangju, the Nokyang Church in Euijeongbu, the Gocheok Church in Seoul, the Sujeong Church in Seongnam, the Paju Church and the Dongan Church in Anyang until the end of August.

Each concert began with the “chamber music ensemble,” a string quartet to which a piano, a flute and a clarinet are added; and then it would continue with the “brass ensemble,” which consists of a trombone, a trumpet, a euphonium and a tuba; and it ended with a male quartet joined with an instrumental performance. They played New Songs such as “I Imagine to Myself,” “O Merciful God” and “O My Dear Heavenly Home,” and theme songs from animated films like “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Ponyo on the Cliff.” They also played the “Triumphal March” from the opera “Aida” by Verdi, a famous tango music “Por Una Caveza” from the “Scent of a Woman” O.S.T., and “Easy Winner” from the movie “The Sting.” The male quartet sang well known songs like “Amazing Grace,” “Nella Fantasia” and so on.

The audience were those who had finished a day’s work or were on holidays; they swept away their daily stress as well as the summer heat through the delicate chamber music performance, the heart pounding cheerful brass performance, and the beautiful harmony of the male quartet. Being fascinated by the performance and united through music, the audience applauded whenever a music piece ended and cheered for the musicians, chanting “encore.”

Every concert hall was filled with people who came to the concert together with their family members, friends, colleagues, relatives, neighbors and so on. Municipal government officials also visited the concert with great interest.

Hwaseong City Councilor Lee Seon-ju who came to the concert held at the Paldal Church in Suwon said, “I was truly impressed especially by the songs of the quartet. I’d like to listen to it again with the people who need healing.” Kim Bong-gyu, an officer of the air force, visited the concert on the same day and said pleasantly, “I haven’t had the time to look back on myself because I was so busy looking ahead, but I was able to have some time to reflect on myself while listening to the music. I was moved a lot. It healed my tired mind.”

In September, the concert tour will begin with the Maseok Church in Namyangju and the Sosa Church in Bucheon, and continue to be held in local churches in Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province such as the Gunpo Church and the Donggu Church in Goyang. When the concert tour around the capital area is done, it will go nationwide to give an opportunity of true healing to more people.

ⓒ 2013 WATV