[Hang on] Ahn Doo-hyun, conductor of the orchestra with developmental disabilities. "When I received standing ovations, I was moved beyond touching...

■ Broadcast: YTN Radio FM 94.5 (20:20-21:00)
■ Date: November 10, 2024 (Sunday)
■ Proceedings: Professor Lee Seong-gyu
■ Dialogue: Orchestra conductor Ahn Doo-hyun

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

◆ Professor Lee Seong-gyu (hereinafter referred to as Lee Seong-gyu): In the heart of Paris, France, there is a theater named Salgabo. It is a historic place where works by French composers such as "Clo Debussy" and "Mors Label" have been performed. Last September, an orchestra of 36 developmentally disabled people performed here. I received a standing ovation from the French audience. How did the performers feel that day? Let's meet the conductor who lost the orchestra. Lee Sung Kyu's happy comma. Hold on. <There's no one like this.> Today, we will talk with conductor Ahn Doo-hyun, who is leading the Heart Heart Orchestra. Hello,

◇ Orchestra Conductor Ahn Doo-hyun (hereinafter referred to as Ahn Doo-hyun): Hello. Nice to meet you.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: I introduced you as a conductor now and I know you are a star conductor who is leading various orchestras. Can you tell me what you're doing and how you're doing it?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Thankfully, there are so many opportunities that I'm in charge of a number of organizations right now. First of all, I'm the standing conductor of the Heart Heart Orchestra that you introduced. And I am the permanent conductor of the Gwacheon Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also the music director of the Arts Symphony Orchestra among private orchestras.

◆ What is Art's Symphony like?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: This is almost the number one orchestra in Korea in terms of movies, musicals and game music.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: That's right. The name of the orchestra that was introduced earlier in the Paris concert is Heart Heart Orchestra. It was recognized as an official cultural event for the 2024 Paris Olympics. And I heard you got a cultural Olympiad label. What's this?

◇ When I first heard this word, I said, "Is there such a thing? I also asked a question. This label is a certification given by the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee after reviewing organizations that present programs linking art and sports. To be honest, it is also a label that proves that we were officially certified and invited to perform in Paris.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: I don't think this is that easy.

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Anyway, the experiences of this organization will be very important, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Cultural Center have to pay a lot of attention to help it. So many people joined us in getting this label.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: I heard that the local audience in Paris gave a standing ovation that day. How did you feel back then?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Actually, I often receive standing ovations at classical performances, but the difference this time was a little different. More than 95% of the audience were local people in France, and when the last performance was over, everyone stood up and everyone stood up without exception and clapped until the end. I wonder if I could have received this kind of applause in my life, beyond touching that feeling. Everyone really liked it, but I was very impressed by the fact that French people who are not our people abroad and those who have artistic pride did so.

◆ I'm sure the members will like it too.

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: The members love it.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: There are people with developmental disabilities in the Heart Heart Orchestra, but there are also one or two people in between and without disabilities, right?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: No. There isn't. It's 100 percent. There is a teacher who is helping me next to me. Rather than participating in the performance, since I'm in the conductor's position during rehearsals or practice, there are music majors who can run and talk about music or things like this when it's not possible to communicate. Participating in the actual performance consists of only 100% members with developmental disabilities.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. That's why it took so long to practice.

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: When I first came to practice, it took a long time to prepare each song. In fact, symphonies and such songs are too difficult in classical music. I usually prepared it for 6 months to a year. These days, what I'm surprised about while practicing is that our learning speed has become very fast. So what used to take about 6 months now takes less than a month. And there are cases where it's only done for a week or two. So, I think learning a lot here has been a preconceived notion in human history that 'people with developmental disabilities can only do this', but it's breaking down now, so in a way, we can see that we're trying and experimenting. In the case of people with developmental disabilities, it takes a long time. When you give a project with the idea that it takes a long time to teach and learn something, there are cases where you give it to the right level. What I'm doing now is, from Beethoven's symphony to Tchaikovsky's symphony to Dvorak's symphony, I'm a persistent digger of songs that even a professional orchestra can't do. And since I have musical pride myself, I said, 'Let's try it. ’ In a way, we're doing it as if we're climbing a mountain. As I kept learning it and kept recognizing that 'this is how people react at this time,' I felt like I learned it at some point. At the same time, it seems that a miracle-like story is being created that can show that even people with developmental disabilities can do this.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Heart Heart Heart Orchestra. When was this founded?

◇ [Andoohyun] It's 2005.

◆ It's been almost 20 years. Already. How did you connect with this orchestra?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: I'm the permanent conductor of the Gwacheon City Symphony Orchestra, and there's a previous permanent conductor. I had a very good relationship with him, but he was working for a music group for people with developmental disabilities at the time. But he told me now. "It's very healing as a musician and it's so nice." If you get a chance like that, you should try it. They told me that, but that opportunity came in 2017. It hasn't been long since I heard that story, so I had a chance like a miracle. I've been together since 2017 with the thought that I want to try it.

◆ How did it feel to do it in the early days of being together like that?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: At first, I was actually ahead of myself, but I didn't have much information about people with developmental disabilities at the time. But as I've been through it, there's a group's atmosphere when you practice. But when our members with developmental disabilities gather, there are so many cases where each individual behavior comes out suddenly. There are various factors such as suddenly getting up and running out, or missing out while focusing on something else while practicing. But when I first experienced it, it wasn't that I was embarrassed, but I already expected such situations to unfold, so it wasn't that hard, but I think I had a lot of fun in the beginning. Mothers are always next to you.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Mostly mothers.

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Because in the case of people with developmental disabilities, mothers don't know what will happen when they go to society and they know their children better than anyone else, so mothers are still next to them about unexpected situations and things that can happen during practice. But I tried to learn a lot about the areas where mothers can communicate with them without them. The important thing is to understand the individual because each person's tendencies are different rather than putting everything in the category of developmentally disabled people, and most of all, there are situations or communication that can be done in language, but I think I have to think a lot about the gestures, the expressions I convey, and how I respond to them when practicing.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Do you have a lot of parents and other people who helped you?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: First of all, our orchestra is basically an orchestra within the Heart Heart Foundation. First of all, the foundation staff worked so hard, and if it wasn't for their hard work and dedication, they wouldn't have been able to come until now. In addition to this, many people from all walks of life are interested in us and are helping us every time we perform. So I don't think I can tell you. They are.

◆ I think a lot of people will be curious. Do you get paid for the orchestra members?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Yes. You can get paid and get four major insurances.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: And I heard that the members do other things besides performing?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: That's right. There are performances, but education on how non-disabled people understand and treat people with developmental disabilities, such a system. There are things like that. So, in terms of awareness improvement education, I went to a lecture and played what I said in person at the river, and showed them how to play musical instruments as a solo. Looking at them in various ways with people, many people said, 'This is how people with developmental disabilities are. It's not what we thought. ’ The goal is to make you feel a lot of these things, and I'm doing a lot of those activities.

◆ Let's listen to a song and continue talking. What song would you recommend?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: This song is a composer that I personally really like. He's a composer, Park In-young. There are many singers in the ballad music world who don't know. He's a person who worked with famous singers that we know. It is a song called Rewind Wind composed by director Park In-young, who is currently working as a film music composer. It's a song you wrote for our Heart Heart Orchestra. We recorded it and there's a music video.

◆ Shall we listen to that? Then let's listen to "The Wind Blows Again" performed by the Heart Heart Orchestra recommended by conductor Ahn Doo-hyun. Lee Sung Kyu's happy comma. Hold on. <There's no one like this.> We're talking with conductor Ahn Doo-hyun of Heart Heart Orchestra. Of course, there's conductor Ahn, but there's another famous conductor who went to the Heart Heart Orchestra.

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Yes. What I came up with at first was... A really good orchestra is not experienced by only one conductor, but by many conductors, they actively create music according to that conductor. I thought this was the way to a good orchestra. Now that I've been doing it only with myself for a few years, I think I want to meet other conductors. On the other hand, everyone wanted to do well in the classical field and learned how to play musical instruments, but I thought about what would be an opportunity to be recognized in the classical world, and now I have created a series in which famous conductors are invited to hold concerts. That's why it's called the Masters series, and some of the best conductors in Korea, such as Lee Byung-wook and Yeo Kyung, came and kept conducting.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: But he also called conductor Ahn Doo-hyun 'the head of the commanding force'. ’ What does this mean?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: I'm actually talking about the Heart Heart Orchestra, but I'm also a conductor of the city Symphony Orchestra and I'm doing a lot of activities. Since I'm very interested in other genres, I had a game concert called Rostak with KBS Symphony Orchestra two years ago, and this was broadcast live. Now, millions of people have seen it. But the way I conducted and the concert ended very successfully, the game user fans gave me a name because there's a boss in the game. The boss is the commander of the corps. In addition to that, he added a command and called me "the commander of the command" so that I was nicknamed the commander of the command and the musicians teased me when I met him.

◆ When you look at the conductors, there are some conductors who conducted from the beginning, and others who conduct after making a reputation as a performer. When did conductor Ahn Doo-hyun start as a conductor, and why did you dream like that?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: First of all, I've been playing the piano, flute, or violin since I was young. I've been doing it, but I loved classical music so much. I've only listened to classical music since elementary school. As a Walkman, I always had classical music in my ears, but when I was a freshman in high school, I went to Kyobo Bookstore and happened to read a book there. There were stories about the interpretation of how orchestra songs change depending on the conductor, and it was very attractive. In fact, I dreamed of becoming a conductor after reading the book. That's my first year of high school. So I can't start conducting right then, so I've been studying composition since then. Then, I went on that path to achieve my dream of becoming a conductor. I studied in Moscow. A first professor in Moscow graduated from the Tchaikovsky school. There are many tests to enter the school. Of course, I took those tests and got into the command department, where I learned to conduct officially.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: But how about the conductor when you compare the performer and the conductor?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: I've actually learned from Russia, so some of the musical parts of the Russians are quite emotionally honest. And maybe because it's very large and big, there's something continental. That's why there are so many beautiful and emotional songs in Russian music. So I like songs that are honest about emotions. What's interesting is that I'm attracted to songs that have been refined rationally as I get older, but I tend to pursue honest music when I'm doing music.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: It wasn't that long, so there was a Heart Heart Orchestra performance on November 19. How's your preparation going?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: We've been really busy. I went to Paris and Europe in September. I was very busy. I believe in Heart Heart Orchestra and I practiced this morning, but you're doing so well. So I believe it will be a successful performance.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: November 19th, where is it held?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: It starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: 'After I took charge of heart hearts, I changed like this. ’ Is there a part like that?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Of course, there will be changes while doing the Heart Heart Orchestra, but the characteristics and nature of the person are not this easy to change. However, through that experience, I have a lot of thoughts, and based on those thoughts, I think I live with that will while thinking about how I should live. If I become a little lazy, my instincts and things like that will come again. Of course, I'm recognized in the real musical part, but it's a common sense that everyone knows how to care about people, respect people, and see things that have left other people's outside parts, but I think I've come to think more about them and try to treat them with respect no matter what people I treat.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: But first of all, it's good to be in charge of the conductor, right?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: That's so nice. In fact, it is not easy for a conductor to stay in one group for a long time. Because if you do this group and get upgraded, you go to another group, and it's a job that changes a lot. I've been with Heart Heart Orchestra for a long time, and I have a strong relationship with the foundation, but I think I should continue to do it for a longer time, which is actually a special case for me due to the nature of my job as a conductor. I didn't know I would do this for this long. But I think I'm going because I want to continue receiving things because I think I'm learning a lot and I'm healing.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: But I did an interview with one of the members. I want to do music for the rest of my life. ’ There was a member who said that. How are you going to be responsible for the rest of your life?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Of course, it's so natural that someday when I get older, I'll open the way for a better conductor to come. But for now, the members and the mothers and the foundation all feel the same way about the goal of how high we can go. So I'll try as much as I can, and I think that there will be good conductors in the future with the current reputation of Heart Heart Heart.

◆ What do you want to say to the members?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Of course, everyone is this happy when they do music, but they suffer a lot in their own lives. And even for the disabled, there are big differences in what they perceive. But the more recognizable the member is, the more they are caught in great pain from the moment they realize why they are here and why others look at me from a different perspective. But the important thing is that no matter how anyone sees it, Ahn Doo-hyun, the conductor, the people at the foundation, the mothers, and many people who support the Heart Heart Orchestra really love them and see them, "I'm not that good at musical instruments, but I'm better than I am." ’ They all acknowledge it. Don't think that way and just enjoy the music happily.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Lastly, the power of music in the thought of conductor Ahn Doo-hyun, who has said that classical music is so good since high school. What do you think this is?

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Not long ago, I was invited to conduct the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan. In fact, how do these people see Koreans standing in front of the conductor's podium? Actually, I was a bit nervous about that. But communicating in front of them and talking through music opened up their hearts, and crucially, when the performance was over on stage, many people cheered and the audience applauded like this, I thought that music is the greatest work that humans have that can skip their position, race, or country. So it's my dream to communicate more broadly with real music so that I can feel it more and move more.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: <There's no one like this.> We talked with conductor Ahn Doo-hyun of Heart Heart Orchestra and Gwacheon City Symphony Orchestra. Thank you for the nice words.

◇ Ahn Doo-hyun: Thank you.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: <There's no one like this.>You can listen to it again through the YTN radio website and YouTube.