On December 5, the Music Association of Korea (MAK) presented the 2003 Music Awards at a prize-awarding ceremony, which took place on December 5 at Hanyang University Alumni Association Bldg. Prof. Choi Jae-ryun (Dept. of Korean Traditional Music) and Prof. Kang Sook-ja (Dept. of Music) were awarded the Best Composer Prize and the Distinguished Service Prize respectively at the ceremony. The MAK
s Music Award, recognized as the most prestigious one in Korea, has marked its 22nd celebration this year. Prof. Choi Jae-ryun, widely known as a creative and outstanding composer of Korean traditional music, was awarded the Best Composer Prize of the MAK
s Music Awards for his great contributions to the development of Korean traditional music. Prof. Choi has released two collections of his compositions, \"Choi Jae-ryun
s Collection of Buddhist Hymns\" and \"Songgwangsa Temple.\" He has also published many books and translations such as \"History and Appreciation of Japanese Music.\" He has released a music CD, titled \"Choi Jae-ryun
s Collection - A Scent of the Fall Given out by a 25-stringed Gayageum.\" The CD contains live performances from his concert, given in this fall. Prof. Choi
s works include \"Hyangwoon (Scented Clouds)\", \"Confession\", \"Fragrance of the Rain\", \"The Homeland of a Poet\", \"Sunset Boulevard\", \"Songgwangsa Temple (for an orchestra)\", \"Gayageum Ensemble\", and so on. Prof. Kang Sook-ja in the Dept. of Music, College of Arts, won the Distinguished Service Prize from the MAK. She has been working for Gwangju branch of the MAK as a chair of the vocal music division and has contributed to the development of vocal music in Gwangju area and Korea as well. She put Puccini
s opera \"Turandot\" on a stage, which turned out to be a major success. In recognition of her dedication, she was named as a recipient of the Prize. Prof. Kang also assumes the posts of a research professor at the Vienna National University of Music in Austria and Arizona State University in the United States. She has given eight solo recitals in Seoul, Gwangju, and Germany as well. She has played the main roles of many operas such as
La Traviata
,
Rigoletto
,
La Boheme
, and
Turandot
. She has released many music albums. Kang never ceases educating students and performing on stage as well. Prof. Chon In-sam in the Dept. of Korean Traditional Music, College of Arts, will be awarded the 2003 KBS Korean Traditional Music Award on December 19. Chon, referred to as pansori (Dongpyunje) master, was designated as the Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 5, pansori
Hungbo-ga
. Chon has consummated his skills through training from various pansori experts including Kang Do-geun, Sung Chang-soon, Park Bong-sul, Sung Woo-hyang, Lee Il-joo, Cho Sang-hyun, and Park Song-hee. He has played a leading role in teaching and promoting the traditional Korean performance. In recognition of his contributions, he was named the recipient of the 2003 KBS Korean Traditional Music Award. He currently works for the Korean Pansori Society, and Gwangju Foundation of Korean Traditional Music Development as a managing director. He is also participating in the steering committees for Im Bang-wool Korean Traditional Music Competition and for Gwangju Municipal Orchestra of Korean Traditional Music. He performed ``Hungbo-ga,

the culturally-rich story of two brothers Hungbo and Nolbo, twice this year. He also performed ``Chokbyok-ga

(Song of the War at Chokbyok) at the Korean Traditional Music Hall of Gochangdongri.