The "Icheon Cultural Mission" brings the rich cultural traditions of the city of Icheon to Europe. A special highlight is the Icheon Turtle Play, a traditional Korean ritual performance recognized as a regional cultural heritage of Icheon. This lively folk ritual conveys wishes for peace, health, and happiness for all.

The concert program offers a unique encounter between East and West: Korean folk songs and traditional Korean songs will be performed using both Western classical instruments and traditional Korean instruments. Audiences will experience a harmonious blend of two musical cultures.

During the "Turtle Play", a translation will be provided to help the local audience better understand and engage with the performance.

Nach dem erfolgreichen ersten Besuch im Jahr 2024 in Belgien (Antwerpen, Brüssel und Neu-Löwen) und Frankreich (Clermont-Ferrand) setzt die Stadt Icheon ihre kulturelle Mission fort. Im Jahr 2025 wird die Reise auf vier europäische Länder ausgeweitet: Frankreich, die Niederlande, Deutschland und Belgien.

Die "Icheon Cultural Mission" bringt die reiche Kulturtradition der Stadt Icheon nach Europa. Besonders hervorzuheben ist das Icheon Turtle Play, ein traditionelles koreanisches Ritualspiel, das als regionales Kulturerbe von Icheon anerkannt ist. Dieses lebendige Volksritual wünscht allen Menschen Frieden, Gesundheit und Glück.

Das Konzertprogramm bietet eine besondere Begegnung von Ost und West: Koreanische Volkslieder und traditionelle Koreanische Lieder werden sowohl mit klassischen westlichen Instrumenten als auch mit traditionellen koreanischen Instrumenten aufgeführt. Die Zuschauer können eine harmonische Verschmelzung beider Musikkulturen erleben.

Während des "Turtle Play" wird eine deutsche Übersetzung angeboten, um dem lokalen Publikum ein besseres Verständnis und ein noch größeres Interesse zu ermöglichen.

Na het succesvolle eerste bezoek in 2024 aan België (Antwerpen, Brussel en Louvain-la-Neuve) en Frankrijk (Clermont-Ferrand) zet de stad Icheon haar culturele missie voort. In 2025 breidt de reis zich uit naar vier Europese landen: Frankrijk, Nederland, Duitsland en België.

De "Icheon Cultural Mission" brengt de rijke culturele traditie van de stad Icheon naar Europa. Een bijzonder hoogtepunt is het Icheon Turtle Play, een traditioneel Koreaans ritueelspel dat erkend is als regionaal cultureel erfgoed van Icheon. Dit levendige volksritueel wenst vrede, gezondheid en geluk voor iedereen.

Het concertprogramma biedt een bijzondere ontmoeting tussen Oost en West: Koreaanse volksliederen en canto's worden uitgevoerd met zowel klassieke westerse instrumenten als traditionele Koreaanse instrumenten. Bezoekers kunnen genieten van een harmonieuze samensmelting van beide muziekculturen.

Tijdens het "Turtle Play" wordt er een Nederlandse vertaling aangeboden, zodat het lokale publiek de voorstelling beter kan begrijpen en er nog meer van kan genieten.

Elise Caluwaerts is a renowned soloist in Belgium and abroad. Her love for challenging repertoires led to various creations and remarkable collaborations with internationally renowned composers and ensembles.
Elise simultaneously studied at the conservatories of Antwerp with Lucienne Van Deyck (classical singing) and Brussels (early music), followed by the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where she graduated Cum Laude with Diane Forlano. Neil Schicoff is her present coach.
Elise released an album with spectacular coloratura repertoire with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra in December 2016, which lead to various major international opera productions.
As an opera soloist, Elise sang the leading female role in the creation of Enjott Schneider's opera Marco Polo, the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Rosina in Mozart's Il Barbiere, Lei in Pascal Dusapin's Passion, and many others.

After studying at Seoul National University, Eungkwang Lee came to Germany to continue his training at the Hanns Eisler University of Music with Prof. Anneliese Fried.
His many awards include the 1st prize of the Alexander Girardi International Singing Competition in Coburg, the 1st and the special prize of the Riccardo Zandonai International Singing Competition in Riva del Garda and 1st prize at the Ernst Haefliger Concours in Bern/Gstaad.
He is also a prize winner at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, the Hilde Zadek Competition in Vienna, the Seoul International Singing Competition and the Grand Prix Maria Callas in Athens.
Eungkwang Lee made his debut at the Seoul Art Center Opera House, the Korean National Opera, in 2007. With the Theater Basel ensemble, he has appeared in many opera's, including "Madame Butterfly", "Le nozze di Figaro", "Queen of Spades", "Aida", "Carmen", "Don Pasquale" and "Così fan tutte". He was also invited to the Musica Riva Festival every summer from 2008 to 2019.
In 2023, he was appointed CEO of the Icheon Cultural Foundation and was named a jury member of the 2023 Riccardo Zandonai International Singing Competition.

Lavinia Meijer studied harp at the conservatories of Utrecht (admitted at age 11) and Amsterdam, receiving her BA and MA with the highest distinction. Aged only 14, she was already performing with symphony orchestras.
Lavinia, an exclusive Sony Classical International artist, tours extensively around the world in classical and rock venues and at outdoor festivals. She has performed harp concertos with renowned orchestras, working with leading conductors. She has also received numerous awards, including 2 gold discs and a certified platinum disc for the album Metamorphosis / The Hours with pieces by composer Philip Glass.
Besides performing the standard classical harp repertoire, Lavinia experiments with electronic music, theatrical music, jazz and avant rock. Composers like Ellis Ludwig-Leone, Garrett Byrnes, Paul Patterson, Carlos Michans, Konstantia Gourzi and JacobTV have all written pieces for her.
Recently, she released Voyage (her seventh solo album), a live recording with bandoneonist Carel Kraayenhof, and The Glass Effect (to celebrate Philip Glass's 80th birthday).

Sunja Wehmeier is a Bonn-based freelance soprano and is recognized by both critics and listeners for her warm, dark timbre and full, round voice. She regularly performs at church concerts and masters a vast oratorio repertoire. She is also a guest vocalist at the Bonn Opera choir and regularly sings in the Bayerische Rundfunk choir.
Among the opera repertoire, she prefers lyrical parts, which highlight the warmth and expressive power of her voice. Her most famous roles include Mimi in La Bohème, Micaela in Carmen, the countess in the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, and Liù in Puccini's Turandot. Sunja Wehmeier also teaches singing and piano and works as a vocal coach for children and adult choirs.
Sunja was taught at the Lübeck Academy of Music and at the Cologne University of Music by acclaimed soprano Edda Moser and followed masterclasses with Mirella Freni.

Part 1: Icheon Turtle Play

Part 2: K-Classic
Special guest: Lavinia Meijer (harp)
Baritone: Eungkwang Lee
1st violin: Sarah Oates
2nd violin: Huiyeon Park
Viola: Sander Geerts
Cello: Olsi Leka
Piano: Uram Kim & Soyoung Lee

Part 1: Icheon Turtle Play

Part 2: K-Classic
Special guest: Sunja Wehmeier (soprano)
Baritone: Eungkwang Lee
1st violin: Sarah Oates
2nd violin: Huiyeon Park
Viola: Sander Geerts
Cello: Laurentiu Sbarcea
Piano: Uram Kim & Soyoung Lee

Part 1: Icheon Turtle Play

Part 2: K-Classic
Special guest: Elise Caluwaerts (soprano)
Baritone: Eungkwang Lee
1st violin: Nicolas Dupont
2nd violin: Huiyeon Park
Viola: Sander Geerts
Cello: Olsi Leka
Piano: Uram Kim & Soyoung Lee