Harmony Across Generations - A Musical Journey Through Korean Heritage
posted: 16-Aug-2025 & updated: 03-Oct-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
⚠️ CRITICAL UPDATE - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY ⚠️
Your previous Luma registration does NOT guarantee attendance!
Due to space limitations (100 seats at EVGR Theater vs 400+ registrations), we are implementing a selection process based on your personal stories and connection to this event.
ACTION REQUIRED:
- Fill out our story form by 01-Oct-2025: https://forms.gle/i2wikNv8YET5Zroe7
- Share why this event matters to you and your family
- Consider volunteering (volunteers will be invited to attend!)
Selected attendees will be notified by 02-Oct-2025
A Personal Message from Maestro Yoonhak Baek
안녕하세요.
춤추는 지휘자 백윤학입니다.
먼저, 10월 4일 스탠포드 대학교에서 열리는 제 강연에 보내주신 큰 관심과 성원에 진심으로 감사드립니다. 사실 20명 남짓 함께 나누는 작은 자리로 기획했는데, 무려 400명 가까이 신청해 주셨습니다. 제게는 과분한 사랑이자 동시에 큰 책임감을 느끼게 하는 순간입니다.
그러나 여러 차례 장소를 조율했음에도 불구하고, 현실적인 제약으로 인해 이번 강연은 부득이하게 스탠포드 대학교 강연홀에서 약 100명 규모로만 진행할 수밖에 없게 되었습니다. 많은 분들을 모시지 못하게 된 점, 진심으로 송구스럽게 생각합니다.
이번 강연은 사연과 신청 동기를 보내주신 분들 가운데 정성껏 선정하여 100분을 모시려 합니다. 모두 함께할 수 없는 상황이 안타깝지만, 보내주신 말씀 하나하나에 귀 기울이며 최대한 공정하게 모실 수 있도록 하겠습니다.
또한, 이번 강연을 함께 만들어갈 자원봉사자 분들을 모집합니다. 자원봉사로 참여해 주신 분들은 이번 100명 강연에도 별도로 모실 예정입니다. 작은 자리지만 저와 함께 따뜻한 무대를 준비해 주신다면 큰 힘이 될 것 같습니다.
저는 그동안 한국과 여러 무대에서 음악을 통해 소통하는 길을 걸어왔습니다. 이번 미국 강연 또한 제 음악 인생에서 특별한 순간이 될 것 같습니다. 부족한 부분이 있더라도, 여러분께 조금이라도 보답하는 자리를 만들기 위해 최선을 다하겠습니다.
다시 한 번, 보내주신 큰 성원에 깊이 감사드립니다.
곧 직접 뵙고 함께 호흡할 수 있기를 바랍니다.
감사합니다.
Sep. 29, 2025춤추는 지휘자 백윤학 드림
Dear both Korean & non-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: 5pm - 8pm PDT
- Venue: EVGR Theater, Stanford University
- Parking: Parking Structure 5
- Audience: Korean & non-Korean families and friends, all ages welcome!
- Light dinner will be provided!
Join us for an evening 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 this link!
- 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 (5pm ~ 8pm)
Opening & Welcome Reception (5pm ~ 6pm)
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 (6pm ~ 6:30pm)
“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.
Other performances of Maestro Baek!
- [내인생의클래식] 지휘자 백윤학 편
- [지휘자직캠] 알라딘 OST Medley (Aladdin Medley) I 지브리 & 디즈니 OST FESTA
- [공연실황] 기쿠지로의 여름 OST SUMMER I 지브리 & 디즈니 OST FESTA
- 캐리비안의 해적 (Pirates of the Caribbean) OST I 디즈니&픽사 OST FESTA
- [공연실황] 겨울왕국 메들리 (Frozen medley) I 지브리&디즈니 OST FESTA
- 인크레더블 (The Incredibles) OST - THE INCREDIBLES I 디즈니&픽사 OST FESTA
Cultural Bridge Talk - “From Engineering to Music: Following Your Heart” (6:30pm ~ 7:20pm)
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 (7:20pm ~ 8pm)
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.
Why This Event is Special
This gathering offers Korean (and non-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,
This special family event is organized independently and complements the professional K-PAI forum series while celebrating our community’s cultural richness.