Harmony Across Generations - A Musical Journey Through Korean Heritage
posted: 15-Aug-2025 & updated: 15-Aug-2025
Want to share this event? Use this link – https://sungheeyun.github.io/event-announcements/korean-family-harmony – to share this musical celebration with your family and friends!
Invitation
Dear Korean Families and Music-Loving Community in Silicon Valley!
We warmly invite you to a very special pre-Chuseok celebration that bridges generations, cultures, and hearts through the universal language of music. As we prepare for Korean Thanksgiving, join us for an intimate family gathering featuring the remarkable Maestro Yoonhak Baek (백윤학 지휘자), whose inspiring journey from Seoul Science High School Mathematics Olympiad (MO) to internationally acclaimed conductor embodies the beautiful fusion of analytical excellence and artistic passion.
This unique event celebrates how music serves as a bridge—connecting grandparents who grew up with traditional Korean melodies, parents navigating between two cultures, and children discovering their heritage while embracing their American identity.
- Date: October 4, 2025 (Saturday)
- Time: 2pm - 5pm PDT
- Venue: Stanford University
- Audience: Korean (and non-Korean) families and friends, all ages welcome!
Join us for an afternoon of musical discovery, cultural connection, and family bonding as we explore how melodies transcend generations and create harmony across cultures. This heartwarming gathering is designed specifically for families—a complement to the professional forums typically held in our tech community.
- Please RSVP via [registration link] - Coming Soon!
- Free admission for all families
Special Guest - Maestro Yoonhak Baek (백윤학 지휘자)
Our featured artist is the beloved conductor known for his joyful, dynamic conducting style that makes classical music accessible and fun for everyone. A Seoul Science High School alumnus and Seoul National University Electrical Engineering graduate, Maestro Baek’s transformation from mathematics olympiad student to passionate conductor represents the beautiful journey of following one’s heart while honoring one’s roots.
His performances are celebrated for breaking down the barriers of traditional classical music, creating festival-like atmospheres where audiences feel joy, connection, and the pure magic of live orchestral music.
Program Highlights (2pm ~ 5pm)
Opening & Welcome Reception (2pm ~ 2:30pm)
Families gather with traditional Korean refreshments including songpyeon (송편) and seasonal treats, creating a warm Chuseok atmosphere. Children and adults mingle in a relaxed setting designed to foster intergenerational connections.
Concert Showcase - Visual Journey (2:30pm ~ 2:50pm)
“The Dancing Conductor in Action”
Experience Maestro Baek’s remarkable performances through these featured videos:
Through carefully selected video highlights, families will witness Maestro Baek’s remarkable performances that have captivated audiences with their infectious joy and energy. These behind-the-scenes glimpses reveal his signature conducting style that makes even the most serious orchestra musicians break into smiles during performances. We’ll see genuine audience reactions to his festival-like concerts, where traditional classical music boundaries dissolve into pure celebration. Special attention will be given to his Disney OST performances and other family-friendly concerts, showing how classical music can be both sophisticated and wonderfully accessible to children and adults alike.
Cultural Bridge Talk - “From Engineering to Music: Following Your Heart” (2:50pm ~ 3:40pm)
Interactive Presentation for the Whole Family
The Universal Language of Music will open our main presentation, exploring how melodies transcend the barriers of language, age, and cultural backgrounds that might otherwise separate us. Maestro Baek will share insights into the mathematical beauty behind musical compositions, perfect for our Silicon Valley community where many parents work in technical fields. He’ll demonstrate how Korean traditional music and Western classical traditions complement rather than compete with each other, creating richer musical experiences when combined.
Generational Musical Memories forms the heart of our cultural bridge discussion. We’ll journey through the musical landscapes that have shaped each generation in our community. Our grandparents carry within them the traditional Korean folk songs that tell stories of seasons, love, and resilience passed down through centuries. Parents in our audience often experienced how classical music training deepened their appreciation for Korean musical heritage, creating unexpected connections between seemingly different worlds. For our children, we’ll explore how discovering their identity through both Korean and Western musical traditions enriches rather than confuses their sense of self.
Interactive Family Moments will bring everyone together through hands-on musical experiences. Families will learn simple Korean 장단 (jangdan) rhythm patterns, clapping together in harmonies that echo traditional Korean percussion. Children will have the delightful opportunity to learn basic conducting gestures, transforming them into little maestros leading their own family orchestras. We’ll create space for brief musical memory sharing, inviting families to reflect on what music means in their homes and how it connects them to both their heritage and their daily American lives.
Q&A and Family Sharing (3:40pm ~ 4pm)
Open discussion where families can ask questions about music education, cultural preservation, and how to nurture children’s artistic interests while maintaining academic excellence—a topic close to many Korean families’ hearts.
Closing Ceremony - “A Musical Thanksgiving” (4pm ~ 4:20pm)
A special moment of gratitude combining Korean Chuseok traditions with musical celebration, acknowledging both our heritage and our American community.
Extended Family Networking (4:20pm ~ 5:00pm)
Families continue conversations over refreshments, sharing contact information and potentially forming music appreciation groups or planning visits to upcoming concerts together.
Why This Event is Special
This gathering offers Korean families in Silicon Valley a rare opportunity to celebrate their cultural heritage while embracing their American community identity. Children will see how their Korean background enriches their appreciation of music, while parents and grandparents connect over shared melodies that span generations.
Maestro Baek’s unique background—from mathematics excellence to musical artistry—provides an inspiring example for families balancing academic achievement with creative expression. His story demonstrates that pursuing passion doesn’t mean abandoning excellence, but rather finding new ways to achieve it.
Perfect Pre-Chuseok Timing
As we approach Korean Thanksgiving (추석), this event embodies the spirit of gratitude—thankful for our heritage, our community, and the beautiful melodies that connect us across generations and cultures. Families will leave with a deeper appreciation for how music serves as a bridge between past and future, Korea and America, tradition and innovation.
Target Audience
This family-focused event welcomes:
- Korean families with children of all ages
- Grandparents wanting to share cultural heritage
- Parents seeking to balance Korean identity with American life
- Children curious about their cultural background
- Non-Korean families interested in Korean culture
- Music educators and students
- Anyone who believes in the power of music to build community
Language: Bilingual (Korean and English) to ensure all family members can participate comfortably
As we prepare for Chuseok, let’s gather as one extended family to celebrate the melodies that make us who we are. Whether you grew up with traditional Korean lullabies or discovered classical music in American concert halls, this event honors all the musical threads that weave together our community’s beautiful tapestry.
We look forward to making music and memories together!
따뜻한 마음으로,
[Event Organizing Committee] [Contact information - Coming Soon!]
This special family event is organized independently and complements the professional K-PAI forum series while celebrating our community’s cultural richness.