Zachary Costello: Echoes Beyond the Peninsula: Presenting Korean Traditional Music-Inspired Commissions for Saxophone in Korea

IML Grant Winner

I will present newly-commissioned works from my Echoes of the Peninsula project in Korea, engaging directly with Korean music professionals to receive feedback. These pieces, written by Korean and Korean adoptee composers, are inspired by the traditional genre sanjo (산조) and blend classical and contemporary techniques with the saxophone. This project explores my experience as a transracial adoptee, using music as a way to navigate identity and cultural connection. I was invited to perform a recital for an audience of both saxophonists and traditional Korean musicians on June 19, 2026. Through this opportunity, I am working to deepen my understanding of sanjo, refine my interpretations, and strengthen the cultural and artistic authenticity of these works through direct dialogue with experts in the field. This opportunity serving primarily as a space for learning, reflection, and growth through direct engagement with Korean musicians and their musical traditions.

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