Midan Youth Wind Orchestra was established in 2023 as part of the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education’s “Shared School” initiative. It is a united ensemble composed of outstanding elementary, middle, and high school students from schools across Gwangju City who are active members of their school wind bands. Just one month after its founding, the orchestra successfully held its first regular concert in December 2023. In 2024, it performed a joint Korea-Japan student wind concert with Kyosei High School in Osaka, Japan, and participated in the Fringe Concert at the 20th World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference, gaining recognition as a leading youth music ensemble representing Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Notably, the orchestra won the Grand Prize in the General and Special Division at the 48th Korea Wind Band Competition in 2024, firmly establishing its musical excellence. As such, the Midan Youth Wind Orchestra continues to grow and is dedicated to playing a vital role in advancing youth wind music in the years to come.
Conductor Yi Changsuk
Conductor Yi Changsuk graduated from the College of Music at Seoul National University and went on to complete the Diplom program at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in Germany with top honors, later completing the university's highest-level program. Renowned for his outstanding performance skills, he performed as a soloist with the Wuppertal Red Cross Band in Germany and served as principal player with the Junge Kammerphilharmonie NRW, performing across Germany and France. In 2007, he made his debut in contemporary music with a performance of Verwehendes (1996 version) by Juergen Ulrich on Germany’s Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). He was later invited to perform in Essen and appeared as a soloist at the Wuppertal Contemporary Music Festival, where he showcased works by Paul Hindemith, Igor Stravinsky, and Edgar Varèse, earning acclaim for his exceptional artistry. After returning to Korea, he served as Music Director for the Chungnam Cultural Foundation, Founding Director of the Gongju Cultural Foundation, and a board member of the Guri Cultural Foundation. He is currently the conductor of the Midan Youth Wind Orchestra under the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education.