Soprano Sumi Jo, a true legend, has just unveiled three incredible promises that capture her artistic mission and future vision, all to celebrate her spectacular 40th anniversary on the global stage!
On May 6, fans and media gathered at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for a special press conference honoring Soprano Sumi Jo’s 40th anniversary since her dazzling world stage debut.
Looking back on her incredible 40-year journey, Sumi Jo shared her heartfelt thoughts, saying, “It wasn’t an easy path, but I’ve proudly arrived at this place.” She even admitted she wants to tell herself, “You’ve done well, you’re admirable!”
Sumi Jo’s 40th-anniversary celebrations are truly diverse and exciting! She’s teamed up with SM Classics, signing an exclusive contract for album and music production, and has already dropped her special 40th-anniversary project album, ‘CONTINUUM’!
Sumi Jo shared the deep meaning behind her new album, explaining, “‘CONTINUUM’ means ‘continues’ in Latin. It reflects the idea that, just like life and art, there isn’t a clearly defined beginning and end. This album was crafted as I pondered what more I can achieve, knowing my 40-year career is still beautifully unfolding!”
Get ready, K-fans! Sumi Jo is hitting the road for a massive tour across more than 20 cities nationwide, kicking off in Changwon on May 9 and continuing all the way through December, with stops in Seoul, Bucheon, Yongin, Yeongsu, Andong, Incheon, and Daegu! She shared a touching reason for choosing Changwon as her first stop: “Actually, Changwon is incredibly important to me. It’s where my parents were born and raised. There are significant people who gave me the most courage throughout my 40-year career. Even though they’re not with me now, I felt it would be wonderful to perform the album live for them.”
And there’s more! The 2nd Sumi Jo International Vocal Competition is set to take place from July 5 to 11 at a stunning historic castle in France!
Sumi Jo expressed her amazement, sharing, “It’s still unbelievable to me that an international competition bearing an artist’s name is being held in France! Last year, we had support from world-renowned vocalists, and this year, an incredible over 500 applicants from 55 countries have poured in!”
Sumi Jo continued, expressing her hopes and excitement for the competition: “It’s hard to predict how many Korean vocalists will advance, as the standard is incredibly high – I’m almost worried if I’ll even be able to announce ‘who placed what’! The love and amazing response we received during the tour after the first competition were truly unforgettable. There will be another tour this time, and honestly, I’m even more thrilled than for my own 40th-anniversary performance; I feel like a proud mother! Beyond just mentoring, it brings me immense joy to share the stage with these talented young vocalists and help them continue their incredible careers.”
And for the future, Sumi Jo also unveiled three heartfelt promises that she is absolutely committed to keeping!
First up, Sumi Jo pledged a commitment to continuous artistic exploration. She emphasized, “As a vocalist, it’s crucial to study, discover, and move forward with profound music. I truly believe this is the most vital aspect for building a long-lasting and sustainable career.”
Her second promise focuses on nurturing the next generation of artists. Sumi Jo explained, “It’s not just about discovering talented vocalists; it’s about giving them the stages and opportunities to perform. I want to cultivate artists who possess not only incredible singing skills but also their own unique worldview, distinct color, pride in their heritage, and who can venture out into the world to become messengers of peace!”
And for her third promise, Sumi Jo aims to make classical music more accessible in Korea. She shared, “Many people find classical music challenging, but I want to create performances where anyone – family, friends, or loved ones – can come without feeling overwhelmed and experience a small but definite sense of happiness.”
Sumi Jo concluded, “I believe these three points are absolutely crucial as I continue my 40-year career journey. I truly hope many people will agree and offer me their encouragement!”
