People gather for the spring concert at Ureuk World Music House in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, April 25. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
The annual spring music event at Ureuk World Music House on April 25 once again brought together global citizens under the theme “Open Heart Open Stage.” People sang, danced, played and shared food they had brought, potluck-style. The traditional Korean house, located at the foot of a forested hill in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is owned by Anna Cybele, a musician originally from New York.
As always, it felt like a magical place; rural layers of green hills hugging a gorgeous hanok lovingly restored were brightened by the global artists and guests, coming originally from Korea, the U.S., Canada, Russia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Ethiopia and China.
For Cybele, the afternoon was another tale of magic in the fantasyland of Ureuk World Music House. “So many kind and happy people, strangers who instantly became friends, gathered and brought amazing home-cooked food, and sang and danced, and hugged and laughed,” she said.
Anna Cybele performs at Ureuk World Music House in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, April 25. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Cybele, a classically trained singer, as well as a raga/jazz/pop-influenced singer-songwriter, opened the concert with her Iranian friend Amir by performing a prayer for world peace. Saying she is deeply disturbed by the war, Cybele wanted to reflect the hopeful truth that people of the world, despite their governments, love each other and always want peace.
Next, Canadian musician Peter James led the crowd in singing “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” a traditional spiritual dating back to the American Civil War that references the Archangel Michael bringing souls to the promised land. The song was a tribute to Michael Harrison, a dear friend and musical mentor of Cybele and and a renowned American composer and pianist, who had died on April 17.
The stage then erupted with belly dancing, ukulele, harmonica, cello, guitars, children dancing with kazoos, more handpans and Persian sufi poetry.
“Violins and ‘ajaeng’ (traditional Korean bowed zither) came out of their cases, but we ran out of time as the sun set and the chai was served,” Cybele said.
“Coming together in peace and love, in meaningful and fun ways, is a blessing. That’s what the annual ‘Open Heart, Open Stage’ is all about.”
Peter James, who also goes by the Korean name Park Ban-seok, has been in Korea for more than two decades, living in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with his Korean wife, Lisa. The two of them have become familiar faces at the Ureuk World Music House, where they have attended the annual spring festival for over a decade. These gatherings, filled with musicians from around the world, represent something deeply meaningful to him: connection.
“Music is a gift, and when we are given a gift, we have to share it with the world,” he said.
That philosophy shapes performances and his outlook on humanity. “In a world I see as increasingly divided, I believe music holds a unique power to unite people beyond borders, cultures and beliefs,” he said. “For me, music is not merely entertainment; it is a bridge between individuals and communities.”
Canadian musician Peter James, right, puts his arm around his wife Lisa at Ureuk World Music House in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, April 25. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
His worldview is also deeply influenced by his multicultural family and his global experiences. When asked about identity, he offered a simple answer: “My favorite race is the human race.”
From his perspective, distinctions between nations and ethnicities fade when viewed from a broader lens. “If you look at the Earth from space, it’s just a big blue ball,” he said. “There are no borders, just people living together.”
In 1957, at just 5 years old, James sang on the radio for the first time. By the age of 18, he had already become a professional musician. Now, at 74, he reflects on a lifelong dedication to music with both humility and gratitude.
Among his many achievements, one stands out prominently: winning a world championship in bluegrass music in 1997, an accomplishment that placed him on the global stage.
For Amir, an Iranian musician who calls himself “a Little Monk,” the hanok stage was ecstatic and meditative. He was accompanied by an Iranian friend who sang a verse from the 13th-century Persian writer Rumi, a world-renowned Sufi mystic and poet, which tells of the mystical meaning of peace and spirituality. Rather than performing established compositions, Amir creates his own pieces inspired by these poems, blending cultural heritage with personal expression. He believes strongly in the beauty and depth of Persian poetry, describing it as among the finest in the world.
Amir arrived in Korea in August 2023 as a master’s student in the biomedical field. He has since completed his degree and is preparing to continue his academic journey by pursuing a Ph.D. His academic background lies in science, yet his heart beats to a different rhythm: music.
His instrument of choice is the handpan, a relatively modern percussion instrument known for its ethereal, meditative sound. He began playing the handpan about six years ago, but in the last two years he has devoted himself more consistently to mastering it. “I want to continue to do music and learn more instruments,” he told The Korea Times.
His connection to the local arts scene began unexpectedly. “A few months ago, I met Cybele at an art exhibition, and we quickly became friends,” he said. “It was through this connection that I found myself participating in this new creative space called Ureuk World Music House.”
Iranian musician Amir performs at Ureuk World Music House in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, April 25. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Although he does not consider himself a professional performer, he has shared his music in small, informal settings across Korea. His performances have taken place in Seoul and in quieter areas, such as Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, often among friends or at local gatherings. “Nothing serious,” he said, “just events and friendly groups.”
The next event at Ureuk World Music House moves on from peace to love. On May 23 at 4 p.m., artist Sungmo Cho will talk about his work and exhibit pieces from his “Along the LOVE Road” series. Cho is a New York-based Korean diaspora painter returning to Korea for the first time in 14 years for exhibits in Seoul, Busan, and Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province. Years ago, he purchased an abandoned countryside house in upstate New York to create “Sarang Mountain,” a place of healing through nature and the arts, the same year that Cybele, a Chungju-based New York expat, purchased her abandoned hanok with a parallel vision.
Visit fb.com/worldmusichouse for more information and to reserve a spot.
Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.
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