Gyeonggi Philharmonic Led by Korea's First Woman Chief Conductor Sung *** - Yeon to perform mahler...

The first female chief conductor of a Korean public orchestra will lead her very first regular performance this week. Sung ***-yeon took the reins of the Gyeonggi Phil-harmonic Orchestra... earlier this year. Our Park Ji-won has more. The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra is busy rehearsing for its first regular concert this year... where they will perform Mahler Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection." The orchestra is receiving an unusual amount of media attention these days... because of its music director Sung ***-yeon. When she was appointed to the position earlier this year, she became Korea's first-ever female chief conductor in charge of leading a public orchestra. Blazing trails is nothing new for Sung. In 2006, she became the first woman ever to win the prestigious Sir Georg Solti International Conductors' Competition in Germany. She followed that honor up the next year by winning the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition,... and has worked as the first woman assistant conductor at the Boston Symphony in the United States. She was also the assistant conductor at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra up until last year. The 38-year old is well-known on the international music scene,... for her ability to balance orchestral sound. She explains why she chose Mahler's symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" as the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra's first regular concert of 2014. "The Mahler symphony is majestic and magnificent in its character,... and it demands a lot of practice. I wanted to show that the philharmonic is entering a new phase,... and show the audience our new determination." The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1997,... and is full of youthful energy. The average age of its members stands at just 34. "During my two years as music director,... improving the overall sound of the orchestra is my first priority. I also hope to present good performances by the Gyeonggi Philharmonic on the global music scene." The Gyeonggi Philharmonic's Mahler Symphony No. 2 concert will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Seoul Arts Center. Park Ji-won, Arirang News.