Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Brings “Everyday Classics” Closer to Citizens

A Social Contribution Brand Embracing Citizens, the Vulnerable, and the Marginalized

49 Performances in Various Everyday Spaces for Citizens

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is launching a new social contribution integrated brand, “Everyday Classics,” to bring itself even closer into the daily lives of citizens.

“Everyday Classics” refers to concerts performed by members of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra not only in traditional concert venues but also in various everyday spaces for Seoul citizens, such as the Han River, outdoor parks, hospitals, welfare centers, and schools for people with disabilities. Since becoming a foundation in 2005, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has conducted 1,258 social contribution programs over the past 20 years in diverse open spaces, including concert halls, museums, parks, and galleries, continuing its cultural and artistic engagement with citizens. This time, the orchestra plans to unify programs that had previously been operated separately under the single brand “Everyday Classics,” thereby increasing cultural accessibility in daily life and developing cultural and artistic activities that go beyond concert venues to connect more closely with citizens.

The newly introduced “Everyday Classics” in 2026 will be composed of four categories—Joyful Classics, Companion Classics, Urban Classics, and Together Classics—encompassing 12 programs and a total of 49 performances.

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's 'A Very Special Concert'. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

“Joyful Classics” is Seoul’s representative outdoor performance brand. On June 13, the “Riverbank Concert” conducted by Sunwook Kim will be held at Yeouido Hangang Park. This event will feature classical masterpieces alongside a fireworks display illuminating the early summer night sky. On September 19, the “Park Concert,” conducted by Music Director Jaap van Zweden, will take place at Seoul Children’s Grand Park. In December, “Miracle Seoul,” a free concert featuring bright and cheerful carols perfect for the Christmas season, will also be held.

“Companion Classics” is a program for the culturally underprivileged and artists with disabilities, in line with Seoul City’s “Companion with the Vulnerable” policy. Under the suggestion of Music Director van Zweden, who values the social role of the orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has hosted the “A Very Special Concert” annually since 2023. Music Director van Zweden conducts these concerts without compensation, creating opportunities for musicians with and without disabilities to perform together and unite through music. Since last year, the orchestra has appointed artists with disabilities as “special members” to support sustainable cultural and artistic activities and expand social value. Additionally, since 2017, the orchestra has promoted the belief that “everyone can enjoy classical music and music knows no barriers” through the “Happy Concert, Together!” series, and two more performances are planned for this year.

Performances for culturally underprivileged groups, who typically find it difficult to visit concert halls, will also continue. The “Small Concerts” series, featuring chamber music performances at hospitals, welfare centers, and schools for people with disabilities, will be held 14 times throughout the year. In celebration of Family Month in May, the “Kids Concert” will take place at Lotte Concert Hall on May 2, featuring both classical music and animation for children to enjoy.

Museum concert of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra held at the National Museum of Korea. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

“Urban Classics” brings the orchestra directly to various neighborhoods across Seoul’s 25 districts, enabling citizens to experience high-quality classical performances close to home. The “Our Neighborhood Concerts” series consists of four orchestral performances, eight chamber music concerts, and eight museum concerts. On March 16, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra signed a business agreement with four public cultural institutions in Seoul—the Seoul Museum of History, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul Museum of Craft Art, and the Hanseong Baekje Museum—and plans to offer a variety of cultural programs that combine performances and exhibitions in the future. Additionally, the “After-Work Talk Concert,” which combines humanities lectures with classical music, will be held four times a year.

“Together Classics” is a collaborative project with private organizations to broaden the base of classical music. Starting with a business agreement with LG Arts Center in 2022, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has been hosting after-work concerts for citizens in the southwestern region of Seoul, and in 2020, it became the first orchestra in Korea to collaborate with SM Entertainment, presenting familiar yet high-quality music. This year, the orchestra will collaborate with SM Entertainment two more times, introducing new content that transcends genre boundaries.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra also announced plans to unveil an emblem that visually expresses the brand identity of “Everyday Classics,” as well as to build an integrated promotional platform where information on previously dispersed social contribution programs can be accessed at a glance. Through the integrated platform, it will provide monthly schedules, performance information, photos, and videos, thereby increasing citizens’ opportunities to enjoy classical music and improving cultural accessibility.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.