South Korea’s leading oboist Kyeong Ham, Principal Oboist of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO), made his highly anticipated South African debut this October, captivating audiences through a weeklong tour of performances and educational engagements.
Invited by the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA), Ham performed in a series of events from 12 to 19 October, visiting major cultural hubs including Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. The tour featured recitals, orchestral collaborations, and masterclasses that brought his artistry to both music lovers and young aspiring musicians.
A graduate of the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik Berlin, Ham is celebrated as one of the most accomplished Korean woodwind players of his generation. He first rose to international prominence after winning top prizes at several major competitions, including the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, the Muri International Oboe Competition in Switzerland, and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory International Woodwind Competition in Moscow. Having held principal positions with the Hanover State Opera Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Ham currently serves as Principal Oboe of the FRSO and teaches at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Ham’s South African tour opened at the country’s renowned multidisciplinary arts festival, Woordfees in Stellenbosch, where he performed a captivating programme featuring works by Bellini, Stravinsky, and a new arrangement of Arirang, Korea’s beloved folk melody. The following day, he appeared on RSG, a national radio station under the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), performing live for its one-million-strong listenership. Later in the week, he took the stage at KCCSA’s “Music On Stage” concert series in Pretoria, before concluding his tour with a stirring collaboration with the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra at SABC’s M1 Auditorium in Johannesburg — earning a standing ovation from an enraptured audience.
In addition to his performances, Ham devoted time to mentoring South Africa’s next generation of musicians. He led masterclasses at the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria, offering students practical guidance on oboe technique, phrasing, and artistic interpretation, while sharing candid insights from his career as an orchestral and solo performer.
Reflecting on his first visit to the African continent, Ham said, “It was both exciting and humbling to perform here for the first time. I felt a genuine connection with the audiences and musicians — it reminded me of why I love making music. I hope to return and continue building bridges through music across cultures.”
This tour was presented by the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa, which continues to introduce outstanding Korean artists to South African audiences and promote cultural exchange through classical music. Previous K-Classical tours have featured acclaimed pianist Yeon-Min Park, tenor Kyungho Kim, and cellist Gunwoo Park.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
• Website: https://sa.korean-culture.org/en
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kccsa
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcc.sa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kccsa