Reflections on Musically and Personally Fulfilling Year

As I sit here, blissfully lost in the beautiful melodies of Schubert's Sonata in B flat major performed by the talented Rudolf Buchbinder, I can't help but look back on the year 2022 with a sense of gratitude and accomplishment. This year has been a huge one for me, filled with challenges and triumphs.

For starters, I had the privilege of joining the faculty at Ocean County College as a teacher in the spring semester. Over the course of this year, I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with some truly amazing colleagues and students. It's been a true joy to be a part of such a supportive and diverse community, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to cultivate a rich learning environment.

On top of that, I've also been incredibly busy with performances this year. After a couple of seasons spent focusing on honing my skills and practicing neglected etudes, I was thrilled to be called for a plethora of solo, chamber, and orchestral concerts. I can't thank enough the friends and presenters who invited me to be a part of these performances, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share my music with audiences again.

But above all else, I'm just so thankful for my family and loved ones. Even though my parents are all the way in Korea, they always make sure to send me words of comfort and support. And of course, I couldn't have made it through this year without the endless love and support of my wife, who puts up with my rants, enjoys my cooking (no matter how questionable), and supports me in every way possible.

All in all, 2022 has been a pretty darn good year, despite its ups and downs. I'm just so grateful to be healthy, along with my wife, friends, and family. As we say goodbye to this year and look forward to the next, I hope that everyone has a wonderful new year filled with all the joy and success that they deserve.

And with that, I'm going to wrap up this post by sharing some of my favorite tunes to listen to during a variety of activities. These include my daily commute to teaching and concerts, my solo relaxation time at home, my practice breaks, cooking dinner, writing emails, and sipping on a nice glass of Scotch whisky. There's nothing like some good music to make any activity a little more enjoyable!

Classical:

  • Schumann Symphony No. 4 & Dvorak Symphony No. 8 (Karajan/VPO) - DG

  • Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Fleisher/Szell) - Sony

  • Bach Brandenburg Concerti (Musical Antiqua Köln) - Archiv

  • Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 (Szell/Cleveland) - Sony

  • Mendelssohn & Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos (Stern/Ormandy) - Sony

Non-classical:

  • Close to the Edge (Yes)

  • Nothing But the Best (Frank Sinatra)

  • Five Leaves Left (Nick Drake)

  • Bitches Brew (Miles Davis)

  • Turning to Crime (Deep Purple)

  • Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band (The Beatles)