[Provided by Dalseong-gun, Daegu]
[Provided by Dalseong-gun, Daegu]

The "2026 Dalseong 100 Pianos" festival drew an enthusiastic crowd of about 20,000 and closed Saturday at the Samunjin outdoor performance venue in Dalseong-gun, Daegu.

The Dalseong Cultural Foundation organized the festival, with support from the Daegu Metropolitan Government, Yamaha Music Korea and the Daegu Music Association.

Selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "Local 100" program, the Dalseong 100 Pianos festival is the district's signature cultural event, drawing on the historical significance of Samunjin Ferry, where Korea's first piano arrived in 1900.

This year, organizers expanded the festival grounds to cover the entire Samunjin area, offering a wider range of activities for visitors.

The day began with the companion program "On Dalseong — Melody On" on the lawn of the Samunjin tavern village, leading into a fully live evening main performance.

The main stage featured Artistic Director Kim Jeong-won alongside pianists Kim Hong-gi, Park Yeon-min and Jeong Han-bin, joined by 96 pianists selected through auditions and the Dalseong Piano Festival Orchestra conducted by Kim Gwang-hyeon.

The program showcased the piano's wide appeal through a grand ensemble of 100 pianos and a newly introduced "4 Pianos 16 Hands" ensemble, spanning classical repertoire across the ages.

Jazz pianist Jo Yun-seong, jazz vocalist Woong San and pop duo Melomance also took the stage, weaving classical, jazz and popular music into the piano-led program and drawing a strong response from the audience.

Side events ran throughout the day, including food trucks, food stalls, hands-on activity programs and a flea market, giving visitors a full range of things to see and do.

Choi Jae-hun, chairman of the Dalseong Cultural Foundation and Dalseong-gun district mayor, said he hoped "the melodies of 100 pianos that adorned a Samunjin autumn night will leave audiences with an unforgettable impression," adding that he would "do his utmost to firmly establish Dalseong-gun as a leading cultural city in South Korea."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com