The Korean Church’s only youth orchestra took to the stage on Sunday for its first ever performance, following its establishment in February.

The concert was performed before a packed audience at Sungnam-dong Church in Suwon diocese.

Father John Hyun Jeong-soo, president of the Suwon diocese’s Committee for Sacred Music, said the diocesan youth orchestra consists of 30 young musicians.

He said the diocese decided to set up the orchestra to help young people, “the heart of the Church,” to grow and realize their dreams and abilities.

The youths performed four pieces of music including the overture to The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart and Concerto for Two Violins in D minor by Bach, which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Before the concert, Auxiliary Bishop Linus Lee Seong-hyo of Suwon presided over a Mass with Father Hyun and Father John Moon Hee-jong, director of Suwon diocese’s Evangelization Administration.

During his homily, Bishop Lee said: “Like an orchestra where different musical instruments create harmony, we Christians should build a happy faith in the community by fully developing an individual’s talent in the Church.”

After the concert, Father Moon called on “all Catholics to support the orchestra which represents the Korean Catholic Church.”

Father Hyun, meanwhile, said his committee will expand orchestra membership to around 60 youths and introduce sacred and classical music to young Catholics by staging concerts in various parishes.

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