To mark Persons with Disabilities Day on April 20, Chunchugwan (pictured), the media center of Cheong Wa Dae, will host a concert featuring an orchestra with disabled and non-disabled musicians. (Cheong Wa Dae's website)

By Lee Kyoung Mi

Cheong Wa Dae will be filled with a beautiful harmony created by artists both with and without disabilities.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 20 will host the concert "Melody from the Heart For All" (unofficial translation) at Chunchugwan, the media center of Cheong Wa Dae, to mark Persons with Disabilities Day. 

The venue will host its second event for disabled people, with the first for disabled artists, "Into the People, Into Harmony" (unofficial translation) coming in August last year.

Performing at the concert will be Hearts of Vision Chamber Orchestra, the world's only private chamber orchestra featuring musicians both with and without visual impairment. For this event, 15 visually impaired and 10 non-disabled musicians will play songs from popular movies and musicals.

Orchestra conductor Lee Sang-jae said, "Visually impaired musicians learn to perform by relying on memory and play with their colleagues by exchanging signs with their breaths, producing melodies that convey special impressions and carry the performance."

"I hope that this concert is an opportunity for the audience to be touched by the outstanding skills and artistry of the disabled artists and shows new hope through harmony between disabled and non-disabled people."  

The ministry added, "We will strive to widen the areas for disabled artists to cover all of culture and arts." 

"Offering more opportunities for them to create and present is the core of the government's policy for supporting disabled artists. So this special concert vividly exemplifies the Yoon administration's philosophy of friendly national policy toward the weak."

Visitors in August 2022 look around at an exhibition of the works of disabled artists dubbed "Into the People, Into Harmony" at Chunchugwan, the media center of Cheong Wa Dae. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)