You have heard of "The Three Tenors" and "The Texas Tenors."
Now prepare yourself for a unique experience with four internationally recognized sopranos. These four talented women will be arriving in Northwest Arkansas to present two concerts to benefit Audrey's Home of Hope, a home for expectant mothers who find themselves in need of assistance.
The Audrey's volunteers have named them "The Korean Sopranos."
Audrey's Home of Hope has been in existence in Bella Vista/Bentonville for two years and has housed 14 homeless expectant mothers and cared for 23 children, 15 of whom were born while their mothers lived at Audrey's. This home provides a safe place for the women and children, while the volunteers help prepare the mothers to re-enter society as self-sufficient women and good mothers.
Services are provided at no cost to the residents, supported by individual donations and the income from Audrey's Resale Boutique, an upscale resale shop specializing in top brands of women's clothes and gently used quality furniture. Learn more about Audrey's at audreyshomeofhope.org or on their Facebook page. Reach the Boutique on its Facebook page or by going to 1731 Forest Hills Blvd. in Bella Vista.
Moon Sook Park, professor of voice at the Department of Music, University of Arkansas, is on the Board of Directors at Audrey's Home of Hope. She was classically trained in Germany, Italy, Korea and the United States and has performed in such well-respected venues as Carnegie Hall and numerous venues in Europe, including Vienne. She was performing with three other very talented sopranos in South Korea last summer.When she told them about the work Audrey's is doing in Arkansas, they said they wanted to help raise money for the program.
They are paying their own expenses to come here to do just that. Their concerts will include beloved duets and opera arias as well as various art songs, including poetic Korean art songs.
Chae Yeon Kim lectures at Silla University in South Korea. She was classically trained in Italy at Conservatorio di Santa Cecillis, Scuola Superiore de Teramo and Respighi Academy de Milano, where she received their highest grade. She has had lead roles on the stages of Rome, Milan and Vienna in Rigoletto, the Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute and La Boheme, and others.
Hyekyung Kim most recently is the leader of the Yewon Opera in Daegu and ambassador of Korea Mission Association, an organization that helps people with disabilities. She was classically trained in Korea at the Catholic University of Daegu and in Italy at the Respighi Conservatory and Orfeo Academy. She has performed all over Asia, including Kiev and Moscow.
Professor Jung Hee Kim teaches voice at Jeju National University in South Korea. She was classically trained in Korea, Chicago and Canada. She has performed in many European countries, as well as Canada and Korea as a soprano soloist in such operas as La Traviata and The Magic Flute. She is a music mentor for low-income families in Korea. Her daughter will accompany The Korean Sopranos as translator.
These highly acclaimed sopranos will be accompanied on piano by Kristine Mezines, a recent graduate of the U of A, on harp by Devanee Williams, a current student at the U of A, and on cello by Dr. Dominic Na. Dr. Na is a new cello faculty at the University of Arkansas and has performed throughout Europe, Korea and the U.S. He was trained in Russia, Germany, Austria and the U.S. Dr. Na plays a cello made by his father.
The two concerts that will be presented in Northwest Arkansas will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Bella Vista Community Church and at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Cooper Memorial Chapel.
Purchase tickets for the Cooper Memorial Chapel event at the door ($20, general; $30, premium), at Audrey's Resale Boutique or from any board member.
The performance at the Community Church will have no fee. A collection will be taken up to support Audrey's Home of Hope.
Community on 02/22/2017