The summer edition of The Music in PyeongChang, a classical music festival held biannually in Gangwon's PyeongChang, Korea, will commence on July 26, led by newly appointed artistic director Yang Sung-won.

During a recent press conference in central Seoul, Yang, a renowned cellist, expressed his commitment to establishing the festival as a prominent representative of classical music in Korea.

Originally created 20 years ago to support PyeongChang's successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Games, the festival exceeded expectations and received continued funding from Gangwon and Gangwon Cultural Foundation.

Yang is well-versed in organizing festivals, having co-founded Trio Owon with violinist Olivier Charlier and pianist Emmanuel Strosser, as well as establishing Festival Owon in 2011. Additionally, since 2018, he has organized a chamber music festival in Bonn, France.

The festival's opening performance on July 26 will take place at the outdoor Daegwallyeong Music Tent of the Alpensia Resort in Gangwon. The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra will mark the beginning of the festival with a rendition of "Peer Gynt suites" No. 1 to 4. Yang, accompanied by violinist Yang In-mo and pianist Youn William, will perform Beethoven's "Triple Concerto." The program will also feature Richard Strauss' "An Alpine Symphony," aligning with this year's theme of "Nature," as per Yang's plan.

The closing performance on August 5 will showcase the Music in PyeongChang Orchestra performing Mendelssohn's "The Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave)" and Beethoven's "Symphony No. 4." Following the intermission, Yang will conduct junior cellists, who will present Dvořák's Cello Concertos. Choi Ha-young, the winner of last year's Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello, will perform No. 2, while Michiaki Ueno, the 2021 Geneva Competition winner, will perform the second and third movements.

Yang aims to create a festival that provides the audience with a fresh and stimulating experience, transforming their perception of classical music, which they may have considered dull or difficult to approach, in PyeongChang.