Komungo Virtuoso Jin Hi Kim’s `Child of War’ to Be Performed by the Mendelssohn Choir; `The Napalm Girl' Inpired Piece Debuts in Fairfield

Jin Hi Kim is not a K-Pop star, she is an internationally acclaimed and innovative player of the traditional instrument, the komungo. Kim is becoming known for her cross-cultural compositions. On Sunday, April 6, the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut at Fairfield University will perform the world premiere of Jin Hi Kim's latest piece "Child of War."

"Child of War" is a choral work that was inspired by an iconic 1972 photograph from the Vietnam War, "The Napalm Girl" by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut. The horrific image, showing 9-year-old girl Kim Phúc running toward the camera after a napalm attack on her village, won a Pulitzer Prize. The young girl is naked because the clothes have been burned from her body and she is screaming in agony.

Korean composer Jin Hi Kim wrote the choral piece especially for the choir. This is her first work for a choral ensemble. She said she drew inspiration from Denise Chong's 1999 biography of the young girl, "The Girl in the Picture: The Story of Kim Phuc: The Photograph and the Vietnam War." Kim told ctpost.com she was "enormously inspired ... obsessed by the book" after reading it.

Kim was commissioned by philanthropist and Mendelssohn singer John Marshall Lee of Bridgeport's Black Rock neighborhood. In a preface to the program Lee wrote "Today, in addition to being a wife and mother and speaker all around the globe, Kim Phuc (who lives in Canada) is a United Nations spokesperson and advocate for the women and children who suffer most from war.

"I have met her twice since 2001, and she remains for me the most sincere and joyful bearer of a profound spirit of forgiveness and love. Commissioning a work of choral music -- to recount a horrible experience and yet to lead us to better understanding for all people and ultimately to the pursuit of peace -- is my small effort to celebrate Kim Phuc and her simple and compelling message for our time."

"Child of War" runs about 40 minutes, including a narration that comes from Chong's book and a komungo interlude by Kim. Kim said "I have utilized some words from Ms. Phuc's own speeches in the 'Forgive' section and added my own text in the final section."

The piece has five sections for choir: "The Girl in the Picture," "Horror of War," "Pain," "Forgive" and "She is Calling for Peace."

"Child of War" will be conducted by Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, who is the founding artistic director of the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. Other featured performers will be Beth Palmer, piano accompanist; Darwin Shen on violin; Anna Skula, oboe; Tom Hudson on cello; and Steve Collins, percussion.

The "West Meets East" program at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts also includes John Rutter's Requiem, written in 1985, featuring soprano Allison Fay. It runs at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts at 200 Barlow Road, Fairfield. The piece will premiere on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25-$10 and can be purchased at wwwquickcenter.com.