Soongeui Chorus was singing 'The Farmer and Gang-Gang Su-weol-Le'

Phaichai High School, Ewha Girl's High School, Daekwang High School, Soongeui Girl's High School, GeumRan Girl's High School, Kyungshin High School, Chungshin Girl's High School, Soongsil High School – alumni from a total of 8 missionary schools joined together in one voice at the 14th Annual Missionary School Alumni Chorus Concert at Thanksgiving Korean Church in southern California on July 26th, 2015 at 6 PM. Every year the concert is held in an area with large Korean-American populations, organized by one of the 8 schools in rotating order. This year, Soongsil High School alumni organized the concert.

The concert began with ‘Everlasting Love,’ performed by the Phachai Men's Chorus. Next the Ewha Girl's High School Alumni Choir performed a 'Korean Folk Song Medley', followed by 'Oh Faithful God' by Daekwang Keunbit Choir. The rest of the schools followed in similar fashion, singing two or three songs each for a total of 21 performances throughout the evening.

It was a heartwarming sight to see – a group of mostly seniors with an average age of over three times the age they were when they graduated, joining together in music, worship, and a bit of old-fashioned fun. For example, the Soongui Alumni Chorus all dressed up in their high school uniforms, with some members even wearing pigtails and wigs! One of the members, Cho Choong-Jah (74), graduated in 1961, had immigrated to the United States to study in 1967 and eventually settled down here. She said “Meeting with the other alumni every week to practice for the concert made me completely forgotten my age and feel like I am in high school again.”

Silvernetnews Reporter Lee Jeong-Nim Leeruth1@Silvernetnews.com

2015 제14회 미션스쿨 동문 합창제

배재고, 이화여고, 대광고, 숭의여고, 금란여고, 경신고, 정신여고, 숭실고 등 8개의 미션스쿨 출신의 각 학교 동문이 함께 하는 '제14회 미션스쿨 동문 합창제'가 지난달 26일 오후 6시 캘리포니아 오렌지 카운티에 소재한 추수감사한인교회에서 열렸다. 매년 남가주 내 한인이 많이 거주하는 지역에서 열리는 합창제는 각 학교가 돌아가며 주관하고 있는데 올해는 숭실고가 맡았다.

이번 합창제는 배재코랄이 '영원한 사랑'을 시작으로 이화여고 동창합창단의 '한국 동요메들리', 대광 큰빛합창단의 '오 신실하신 주', 숭의코러스의 '농부들과 강강수월래' 등 각 학교별로 두 세곡을 선보이며 21곡을 차례로 연주했다.

10대 학창시절의 모습으로 돌아가서 풋풋한 모습으로 합창을 한 단원들의 평균 나이가 대부분 60이 넘는 실버들이다. 숭의코러스는 학창시절 교복을 맞추어 입고, 댕기머리를 하고 연주를 하여서 추억과 재미를 선사했다.

1961년도에 숭의여자고등학교를 졸업한 숭의코러스의 조충자(74ㆍ여) 단원은 대학 졸업 후 1967년도에 유학 차 도미하여 미국에 정착하게 되었다며 "합창제를 앞두고 모든 단원이 매주 1번씩 만나 연습을 하고 있노라면 나이를 잊게 된다"고 말했다.


실버넷뉴스 이정님 기자 leeruth1@silvernetnews.com