[News Culture] The Korean Trumpet Orchestra (K.T.O), a rare ensemble built entirely around the trumpet family, is returning to the stage with the kind of scale and sonic impact few brass groups can match.
The orchestra will hold its 11th annual concert at Seongnam Arts Center Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 21. The program is designed to showcase both the sheer force of a large trumpet ensemble and the instrument’s wider range of color, from bright ceremonial brilliance to warmer, more lyrical textures.
K.T.O traces its roots to Korea’s first “100 Trumpeters Ensemble,” launched in 2013. It has since grown into one of the country’s largest brass ensembles, building its profile through regular concerts, regional appearances and performances at the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival.
Its repertoire has never been confined to standard classical fare. The ensemble has brought film scores, musical theater numbers and Korean traditional music into its programs, reshaping them for massed trumpets and developing a performance style defined by layered brass sonorities and high-impact ensemble playing.
The Aug. 21 concert will be led by music director and conductor Kim Woo-il, who founded and conducted Korea’s first 100-member trumpet ensemble. He has also led ensembles to consecutive first-place finishes in the ensemble division of the Korea International Wind Festival, contributing to the growth of trumpet ensemble performance in the country.
Bae Jae-hyuk, principal trumpeter of the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, will appear as soloist, adding a featured voice to the large-scale brass setting.
The program opens with H. Hirose’s Glory of David, followed by Philip Sparke’s The Sun Will Rise Again, a work shaped around themes of hope and renewal. Agustín Lara’s Granada will serve as one of the concert’s featured trumpet showcases.
The second half moves across a broader musical spectrum, including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave and Jan de Haan’s A Discovery Fantasy, alongside familiar selections such as La Paloma and a Rock ’n’ Roll Medley.
By pairing symphonic repertoire with widely recognizable melodies, K.T.O is aiming for a concert that emphasizes not only the power of massed brass but also the trumpet’s versatility across styles.
The Korean Trumpet Orchestra’s 11th annual concert is presented by K.T.O and organized by Reed Arts Planning.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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