Members of Hanyang Philharmonic Orchestra gathered at the college Wednesday afternoon for practice ahead of the upcoming University Orchestra Festival. About 100 musicians practiced Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture, Op.84” and Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “The Choral,” for which words were taken from “Ode an die Freude (Ode to Joy),” a poem by Friedrich Schiller.

The members comprised of Hanyang University students have been practicing intensively for the past two weeks for the festival that runs from Saturday through June 27 at Seoul Arts Center.

“This festival means a lot for us. Everyone must participate with pride for their schools and we will have a nice competition,” said Choi Jae-hyuk, the inspector and viola section leader of the orchestra. “This festival could be the last concert in college for the graduating seniors. And I hope it will be a good wrap up of our college years,” he added.

Professors stepped up to help, too. For Symphony No. 9, acclaimed singers such as soprano Park Jung-won, mezzo soprano Jung Soo-yeon, tenor Kim Woo-kyung, and baritone Chung Locky will join as soloists alongside the student choir.

The Hanyang University team will play with teams from five other universities ― Seoul National University; Sookmyung Women’s University; Ewha Womans University; Kyung Hee University, and Korea National University of Arts ― in the first festival of its kind in the country.

“We are hoping that the passion from the great energy and techniques will bring vibrancy to the stage,” said the organizer of the festival.

The concerts are held on 8 p.m. every day except for Hanyang University’s 5 p.m. performance on Sunday. Tickets are 15,000 won and can be purchased on www.sacticket.co.kr. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.

By Suh Hye-rim (sheren6735@heraldcorp.com)