To My Dear Juniors, Chungnam National University Students

 

    Hi, My juniors! I'm Kang Yeon-jong, a musical actor. I started my undergraduate life in '89 and graduated from Chungnam National University (CNU) majoring in Music in '92. I has been an opera singer up until last year, but I'm engrossed in musical now. Recently, I acted 2 years in <The Phantom of the Opera> and 10 months acted in <Cats>. I'm one of a few people in Korea who is both an opera singer and a musical actor. I'll introduce myself a little.
    I studied in the Department of Music, College of Arts, because I dreamed of being an opera singer

 
ever since I was young. My grades were not so good when I entered CNU, but I was interested in various fields. So, I read many books and discovered I always had a curiosity in music.
    There were 30 practice rooms in the Department of Music at that time; although the number of students was about 80. To occupy my own practice room, I used to go to school at 5:00 am by taxi almost every day. By doing so, I could practice all day until time for the last bus. Because I was crazy about singing and always aimed to get better, I tried hard as you can see. I was a scholarship student working in the department, so I had access to many kinds of magazines like <Auditorium> and <A Journal of Music>. Those magazines provided information about concerts with internationally famous tenors. Though most of the performances were held in Seoul, I enjoyed waiting more than two hours long for their encore show. My passion for music led me to be the inspector of vocal music; one of presidents in the Music Department.
    To actualize my dream, I went abroad and spent seven years in Italy. Fortunately, I gained admission to enter the Milano National Music College on the first try. I graduated exceptionally from the
 
university after three years. I was the most passionate student-immersed in my thoughts. However, I didn't enjoy singing opera. Classics are too typical and gave me much tension and stress. Besides, my profile or specific title always chased me from the field of Classical.
    Then one day, I was chosen for dual main roles with actor bak Cheol-Ho in <New Silk Road Creative Mupera (Musical + Opera)> in 2003, Daejeon Culture & Arts Center. I was arrogant and didn't practice hard because I was so confident in my musical and acting ability. However, I soon realized that I needed more much time to cultivate my talent, when compared with my senior Bak Cheol-Ho. He supported me the entire time while preparing our play and one day he said to me, "How about challenging to musical?" This suggestion led me to foot on the world of musical. I was 34 years old at that time. 
    I debuted in musical staring from <Beauty and the Beast> and acted in big musicals such as <A Man
 
Who Digging through a Wall>, <Moon River>, <The Top Dinner in The Ground> and <Cats>. The days I'm preparing for the musical <Cats> really hard. In this play, I play a triple role. One of the roles in 'Gus,' as old cat singing his memories of the past when he was famous. Gus criticizes the current generation and fails to be "chosen" by the cats. Instead, they had chosen 'Grizabella." Actually, each cat has his or her own characteristics. <Cats> show us that we need to understand each other and communicate with each other; you can see the message clearly in the scene 'Memory.' Due to songs and actors' great ability, <Cats> is widely rated as one of the top four musicals in the world. 
    Most of actors and actresses are really proud of themselves like real cats because we get intensive training almost every day. I am exerting my physical stamina to the last drop. I must confess, I have even experienced facial paralysis because of hard training. It was very painful, but I have never stopped practicing <Cats>. I've been dreaming of this role a lot, so I couldn't stop. I overcame hardship. I'll play in the musical <Cats> until the end of April this year.
    Playing both opera and musical, I went through many difficulties. Opera is like a drama where acting skills are more important than music. However, musicals need the techniques of music and rhyme. It requires more than just acting skill. So, I use my own vocalizations made from classic and try ti avoid. Rock or Ballad musical. These days more people tend to combine opera with musical.
    Now, you can call me. 'Workaholic.' I hate to get bored. In other words, I wanted to take all challenges while I was young. I'm broadcasted on the radio program <Kang Yeon-Jong's Music Note> every Sunday morning one part of <A Music Travel on Sunday> in Gangnung MBC Radio. Also, I give a series of lectures at several universities in Seoul. I have also lead an orchestra for the last five years. I was a choir director for the Municipal Choir, Children's Choir, and an instructor in Daejeon High School. All people that I met along the way were special to me. My motto is 'Do once, and then say.' There is nothing that we cannot do. 
    I want to die on then stage. It is my wish to perform on the stage until my last drop of blood. I can see new things as I get older, but I try not to forget my original intention. Never!
    I would like to say this: please bump into everything around you. To truly enjoy something, you should push the limit. Then, you can overcome your own limitations. If you want to be a specialist in your own field, be prepared ar all times. And seize the chance when it comes. Be positive when everything looks gloomy. I have more to say, but I'll stop here for today. It was my honor and pleasure to talk.

 

From Kang Yeon-Jong, your senior and supporter forever

 

By Kwon Da-sol CP reporter
dasol1422@cnu.ac.kr

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