Musicians of S. Korea, ASEAN perform to celebrate summit

(ATTN: ADDS info on guests in 3rd para, move up quotes to 4th para)
By Koh Byung-joon
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, May 31 (Yonhap) -- An orchestra of musicians from South
Korea and Southeast Asian countries will give their first performance here on
Sunday to commemorate the summit talks to be held this week among their leaders.
The ASEAN-Korea Traditional Orchestra will give its inaugural performance for
leaders attending the two-day summit that kicks off on the southern resort island
of Jeju on Monday, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Heads of states from seven countries including South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia and
the Philippines were invited to watch the meeting. Of them, both leaders and
their wives from three countries will join the event.
"The orchestra will promote the culture and spirit of Asia throughout the world.
Moreover, it will encourage further mutual understanding between Asian countries
through music as a common language," the ministry said.
Fifty nationally recommended musicians from 10 ASEAN members and 30 musicians
from South Korea will perform 12 pieces based on folk songs and traditional
melodies of 11 countries, according to the ministry.
The performance will start at 8 p.m. on the fifth floor of the International
Convention Center, where the summit is to take place, it added.
South Korea offered the idea to form the orchestra of Asian musical instruments,
and the project started to take shape at the first meeting among members in May
2008. It also plans to perform in front of South Korean audiences in Seoul
earlier next month.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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