2013 Love in Music Annual Concert
Main Worship Hall – Sa-Rang Community Church
1111 N. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, CA 92801
5:00 pm, Saturday, September 21, 2013
The entire family of Love in Music posed for a photo at the end of the concert.
Due to scheduling conflict, the only group missing is our students and their families
from our Santa Ana Branch. In the center are Dr. In Hong Cha on the wheelchair
and Mr. Yoonjae Park, special guest performers.
News related to this event in a local newspaper – Korea Ties, 9-16-2013
The Inspirational Journey of Dr. In-Hong Cha
Love in Music’s 6th Annual Concert – September 21, 2013
Professor In-Hong Cha, famously known as the “Conductor in a Wheelchair,” will be making a special appearance at Love in Music’s 6th Annual Concert on September 21, 2013, at Sa-Rang Community Church. His incredible story of perseverance and success will serve as a powerful testament to the transformative power of volunteerism and music.
An Unforgettable Story of Hope and Determination
Born with polio and abandoned as a child, Professor Cha spent his early years in a rehabilitation center near Daejeon, South Korea. His life took a dramatic turn when Minja Kwak, a volunteer, gifted him a violin. Through tireless dedication and passion, he overcame immense challenges and eventually became the first disabled Korean-American to be appointed as a violin professor and orchestra conductor at Wright State University, Ohio.
“A Life-Changing Reunion” – Dr. Inhong Cha and Minja Kwak, the volunteer who not only gifted him his first violin but also provided him with free violin lessons, share a heartfelt reunion at Love in Music’s 6th Annual Concert. As a child growing up in a rehabilitation center, Dr. Cha’s life was transformed by her kindness and dedication. She taught him tirelessly until he was referred to another professor who eventually helped him pursue violin studies in the United States. Now a celebrated violinist and orchestra conductor, Dr. Cha introduced his beloved mentor to the audience with tearful gratitude. Their emotional embrace, met with thunderous applause, beautifully demonstrated the lasting power of compassion, mentorship, and music.
Recognizing Volunteerism and Its Impact
Music Director Yoon-Jae Park stated: “The message of this concert is the power of volunteerism and the miracles it can create. We are thrilled to have Professor Cha as a special guest, whose life is a testament to this very message. We are also excited to welcome Minja Kwak, who inspired Professor Cha’s journey, and will be presenting her with a certificate of appreciation.”
Executive Director Kwanil Park added: “Every year, it’s incredibly moving to see children who received instruments and lessons through Love in Music proudly perform on stage. We hope more people will join this relay of love and service.”
Love in Music’s Continuing Mission
Since its founding in 2007, Love in Music has provided free instruments and music lessons to underserved children initially from black and Hispanic communities through a network of 45 volunteers, benefiting 67 students in Los Angeles and Orange County. The organization’s dedication to cross-cultural collaboration and racial harmony has earned it recognition as a Presidential Volunteer Service Award.