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Tamtee Performed at the 2009 World Disabled People¡¯s Culture and Arts Festival
28/10/2009
Tamtee, a Samul Nori group for disabled children and youths and one of the ardent user members of the Seoul WCO Center, presented a performance at the opening stage of the 2009 World Disabled People’s Culture and Arts Festival, held in Seoul on October 16.
The Festival was organized for the purpose of internationally promoting the cultural rights of the disabled – to freely enjoy, create and participate in various aspects of culture. A proclamation was addressed to the audience, calling for support of 650 million disabled people around the world and their right to quality of life and well-being, of which culture is an essential part.
The opening event of the Festival featured a presentation by Yoon Ok Kim, the First Lady of Korea, and a variety of performances, which included a piano concert by Steve Barakett and a chamber orchestra. Tamtee and another disabled theater group from the Seoul WCO Center presented great musical and theatrical performances, convincing the audience that no obstacle is too big to overcome when you share a small act of encouragement and support with each other.
The Festival continues through 23rd of the month. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.dpicf.or.kr/
About Tamtee:
Tamtee (meaning “heat rash” in Korean) is a Samul Nori band organized for disabled youths with age ranging from 7 to 20. Each member of the band suffers disability from cerebral palsy, autism, or other psychological deficiencies, and they seek through music to recover strength and courage to reconnect with life. Samul Nori is a traditional genre of Korean percussion ensemble composed of four different instruments.
They regularly meet at the Seoul WCO Center to learn and practice the music. The meetings are coordinated entirely through volunteer efforts by music professionals and a parent community.
Since it first started five years ago, the original band members of five little boys have nearly grown into their twenties and the group has also gradually grown both in its size and its virtuosity. The band had its first public debut in 2008 when they won one of the most celebrated national Samul Nori competitions in Korea. The audience was deeply moved by Tamtee’s heart-touching performance to which they gave their all. As the band name suggests, they practice and play music with so much love and passion as to welcome even rashes on the sweaty bottom.
Tamtee is continuing their regular practice meetings at the WCO Center, striving to live their day with better appreciation of who they are and what they can do. |
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