Graduated YU Major in Voice on the 22nd
‘Fun college life’ with fellow students sharing the same interest of ‘music’
“Want to do moving music on stage... I will become a vocalist recognized by the audience”
[February 22, 2021]
“I want to step on stage as a performer that does music that moves the audience. I also want to hold performances with public benefit purposes to share hope through song with youths. Above all else, I want to become a vocalist recognized by the audience.”
A student who majored in voice by overcoming his visual impairments to perform hope will take his first step as a ‘professional vocalist.’
He is tenor Kim Min-soo (22, left on photo) who graduated from the YU School of Music. Mr. Kim has a grade-3 visual impairment. He suffered from an eye disease since he was young and slowly lost his eyesight. At about his third year in middle school he fell to a state of low vision (visual impairment that cannot be improved with medical or optical methods). But the moment of happiness and confidence when singing has motivated him to take the stage.
“I always liked to sing and go on stage since I was in elementary school. My parents actually had me learn to sing because they wanted me to have confidence in areas different from others, but this actually helped me find a talent.”
Mr. Kim graduated from a regular humanities high school and was very skilled, receiving admission to the YU School of Music through general admissions procedures and not special admissions. In fact, students who were also admitted with him in 2017 and even the professors were not unaware of his disability before he actually attended YU.
Unlike his middle and high school years where he studied at a restricted space, one may have assumed that his four years in university where he would have to commute on his own, move between classrooms, and other parts of college life on his own would be difficult, but Mr. Kim did not think so.
“There were some moments of hardships, but college was the most fun part of my life so far. I have many fun and precious memories from elementary, middle and high school, but I did not have many friends majoring in music back then. But as most of my peers at university major in music, I was always able to share my interest of music with others. My college life was all about music, so I was very happy and had fun all the time.”
Due to the nature of his major in which he has to practice while looking at scores containing various music signs, he had to work harder than others in his major. Unlike others who practice while reading the score, Mr. Kim had to completely memorize the score to practice.
Visual impairments would obviously be a huge obstacle for majoring in voice, but Mr. Kim said, “I’ve become used to memorizing scores faster than others. Maximizing the feel of sounds and sensual expression are important for singing, but because I was able to concentrate only on music and practice, I think it helped me improve my skills,” showing his positive mindset.
Mr. Kim’s positive attitude on life continued on to his grades. His grades continued to improve throughout the four years in school since 2017. In particular, in the last semester before graduating, he took first place in both written and performing exams to finish off his undergraduate studies. Mr. Kim won the YU President’s Special Award at the graduation ceremony held on the 22nd.
Meanwhile, he intends to go on to graduate school this year. He also explained his future academic plans including studying in Europe, which is the home of classical music.
