Tomorrow evening: Songs beneath the Sacred Tree. A wife-and-husband pair of senior Korean ritualists — Hong Hyojin singing, dancing and playing hand-gong, Jung Younrak on drum — bring the thrilling music of the East Coast shaman tradition to Palace Green. With Prof. Simon Mills. 7.30pm.
On 21st June, join SongPath for a unique afternoon of music, nature, and wellbeing in Durham University Botanic Garden. Singers Jess Dandy and @joannaharries.bsky.social lead an uplifting, interactive musical trail from the woodland garden to the wildflower meadow.
Tomorrow evening: Royal Northern Sinfonia at Elvet Methodist Church. Haydn's Seven Last Words — music of extraordinary reflective grace — followed by Schubert's great String Quintet in C major, lyrical, serene, and profoundly moving.
We are thrilled to announce 'Songs beneath the Sacred Tree' on 27 May. Two senior ritualists from South Korea's East Coast hereditary shaman tradition bring their extraordinary songs, dances and rhythms to Durham in a lecture-concert with Prof. Simon Mills. Department of Music, Palace Green, 7.30pm.
Next Wednesday: Songs beneath the Sacred Tree. Hong Hyojin and Jung Younrak — both officially recognised as Cultural Assets 82-1 — perform the extraordinary songs, dances and drumming of South Korea's East Coast shaman tradition, with Prof. Simon Mills. Palace Green, 7.30pm.
A remarkable evening last night as Hong Hyojin and Jung Younrak brought the songs, dances and rhythms of Korea's East Coast shaman tradition to Palace Green with extraordinary energy. Thank you to all who came — and don't miss their free paper flower workshop at the Oriental Museum today, 1–3pm.
On Friday, the Royal Northern Sinfonia close their MUSICON season in style. Haydn's magnificent Seven Last Words — slow, searching, sublime — and Schubert's String Quintet in C, written just weeks before his death. Two masterworks at Elvet Methodist Church, 7.30pm.
Three extraordinary events close our MUSICON season this term. RNS return on 8 May with Haydn and late Schubert. On 27 May, two Korean ritualists bring thrilling songs and dances of the East Coast shaman tradition to Durham. In June, SongPath — song, nature and wellbeing at the Botanic Garden.
Last night's Musicon concert of music from the South Korean shaman tradition was remarkable: warm, serious, and joyous—and with a dose of audience participation! Thank you so much to Hong Hyojin and Jung Younrak for the mesmerising performance.
Durham Music shone at the RMA Southeast Asia Chapter conference 🎉 Current students Ardi Echevarria and Yan Xin Ng presented — and won the Springer Researcher Student Prize! Indonesia-based alumnus Matthew Hansel also presented. Full programme: https://www.nafa.edu.sg/ebook/RMA_SEA_Conference_2026/
