Found in 1980, the Korean Concert Society is a nonprofit volunteer organization that has been providing debut opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area to gifted young musicians under age of thirty of Korean ancestry.

Because this is an effort to support musicians who are just starting a career in performance, musicians currently under management will not be considered. The applicants' musical talents generally play a larger role in the selection process than the display of flawless technical ability or long list of accomplishments and impressive recommendations.  We generally rotate violin, cello, piano, and others each year even though we do not strictly follow the order.  Others include instrument ensemble, wind instrument, and voice.  Ordinarily, we announce the audition in early December and the application deadline is the last day of March.  Our selection will be announced between the end of April and early May each year.   This year (2010), however, we will accept application package until the end of April and will announce our selection before 15 May.

To be qualified, the applicant must be of the age of twenty nine (29) or younger by  the date of the recital.  When selected, performers are featured in a Washington, DC area debut recital program at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater and receive $5,000. The performer is expected to be responsible for the accompanist and the transportation. We provide lodging and meals for the performer and the accompanist while in town for the recital. The recital is regularly scheduled for a Saturday evening between September and December. The application is due by the last day of April. Applicants must submit: 

(0) Applicant contact information (full name, mailing address, phone numbers, and email address)

(1) a compact disc (CD) recording, 45 minutes to one hour in length of recital repertoire (no concertos please)

(2) a list of music on the CD by track number - identify when and where each track was recorded

(3) an 8"x10" photograph

(4) a personal biography

(5) date of birth

(6) list and years of school attendance with name(s) of teacher(s),

(7) two individuals (just names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers) who could tell us about the applicant (no recommendation letters needed).  

The application materials must be sent to the following address:

Korean Concert Society
Attn: Mr. Joung R. Cook
1830 Battery Park Street
Vienna, VA 22182

The materials submitted with the application will not be returned.  Please note that we may choose to not consider any applicant who does not submit all of the requested application materials. Also note that we do not ask to include any recommendation letters with the application.

 If we can help answer any questions about the Korean Concert Society, our concert series or the application process, please feel free to contact Mr. Joung Cook at (703) 821-2852, or e-mail jrcook@koreanconcertsociety.org.