Student ensembles will share the stage to feature the music of Korea, and our Intercultural Improvisation Ensemble.
This concert brings together performances from the Music of Korea and Intercultural Improvisation: Cultures in Musical Dialogue ensembles, celebrating Korea’s rich musical heritage alongside cross-cultural creative practice. The program features traditional and contemporary works shaped by both historical roots and collaborative experimentation, with students performing on a diverse range of Korean instruments including gayageum (12-string zither), janggu (hourglass drum), danso (bamboo flute), as well as cross-cultural music ensemble. Repertoire includes beloved folk songs such as Arirang and Doraji, vibrant percussive traditions like Samulnori, and newly devised pieces created through an improvisation-based process. Embracing both tradition and innovation, the beauty of traditional folk music and cross-cultural creativity come together to shape each work organically, resulting in a dynamic musical dialogue and shared creativity across cultures.
The 66th Annual Spring Festival of World Music
Continuing a tradition begun in 1960, the Department of Ethnomusicology draws on its incredible collection of world musical instruments to present its annual Spring Festival of World Music. It's an opportunity for student ensembles to perform and share traditional musics from around the world as they master their instruments. The 2026 festival concert dates run from April 26th to June 3rd. The festival is free and open to the public. All concerts are in Schoenberg Hall and Lani Hall. We look forward to welcoming you to The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music for our storied Spring Festival of World Music. Click Here to Learn More about the Festival