KSI Tallinn starts choir activities to share
spirits of Korea through music

> Formed from the learners’ desire to learn Korean songs > Opportunity to share Korean sentiment and culture with learners through Korean music > Aims to perform at events related to Korea, in addition to the performance at the graduation ceremony of KSI

The “KSI Tallinn Choir” at KSI Tallinn in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, started its activities officially. The KSI Tallinn Choir, comprised of a total of 8 members, is set to showcase its performances of a variety of genres of beautiful Korean music not only to residents of Tallinn but also to the world.

The KSI Tallinn Choir was established to meet the desires of learners who want to learn more Korean songs. Last year, KSI Tallinn conducted classes on Korean folk songs with the theme of "Arirang" and K-pop song. When the classes were over, students from the folk song class performed "Arirang Medley" and "Arirang Alone" at the graduation ceremony, while learners from the K-pop song class presented a special stage at the Hangeul Day event.

The successful performances of folk songs and K-pop were the impetus for the formation of the KSI Tallinn Choir.

Learners who graced the stage at that time said, "It was a special opportunity to learn Korean songs. I hope there will be more opportunities like this." The KSI Tallinn Choir was born to such requests from students. Many of the learners who performed at that time are now participating in the KSI Tallinn Choir.

In December of last year, the KSI Tallinn Choir began practicing with the children’s song "Spring in My Hometown," which well captures the sentiment of Koreans. They then sang the song "Southern Village," which expresses expectations and hopes for spring, in harmony. This month, they have started practicing the song "Departure," which conveys messages of challenge and growth in life to people living in this era.
Every Tuesday evening at 8 p.m., the KSI Tallinn Choir gathers to practice various Korean songs under the guidance of Dispatched Teacher Kim Yeong-ju. Although their primary focus is on preparing for the end-of-semester performance, the KSI Tallinn Choir aims to be invited to perform on larger stages where Korean culture is shared, such as events held by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Finland or local music concerts.

Members of the KSI Tallinn Choir practicing the Korean song "Departure”

Gathered out of their love for Korean language and songs, the members of the choir are experiencing both traditional and modern Korean music and gaining a deep understanding of Korean culture and language through singing. They shared the difficulty of the challenge in Korean music, saying, "Korean songs have a lot of high notes and are sung vigorously compared to Estonian songs. It's not easy to express that." However, they also expressed their determination to understand Korean culture better by saying, "Through Korean songs, we can feel the sentiments of Koreans and learn a lot of vocabulary and expressions."

In addition to the choir, KSI Tallinn also conducts activities such as the band club "Koba" and the handicraft club "Hobak." Through these diverse cultural activities, KSI Tallinn strives to provide valuable opportunities for learners who seek to experience and understand Korean culture, promoting the beauty of Korea to the world.

Writing by Dispatched Teacher Kim Yeong-ju of KSI Tallinn, Estonia

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