Soon He So: Continuing the Tradition
Soon He So’s first recollection of traditional Korean music was during a visit to the market with her grandmother when she was about 5 years old. Upon hearing an alluring rhythm, she let go of her grandmother’s hand to find the source and came upon a traditional dance school. There she fell in love and would later dedicate her life to Korean dance.
“ Korean culture doesn't develop in Korea alone. Rather, it can blossom abroad as Koreans intertwine their culture with the local culture. ”
After immigrating to the United States, Soon He So formed the Asian American Arts Academy in 1985 providing classes in various Korean-American churches throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia. For many students, Ms. So’s classes were an opportunity to reconnect with their Korean heritage. “I remember being so excited to go to rehearsals because [traditional drumming] was something I enjoyed when I was a young girl in Korea and I thought I would never get a chance to play again, let alone perform at the White House!” former student Jihwan Baek fondly recalls.
Throughout her career, Soon He So traveled to over 90 countries giving over 2,000 performances with her students and her husband, master drummer and recipient of the Presidential Award in National Folk Arts (Korea), Pastor Hyung Joo Cho. Ever the ambassadors for traditional Korean music and culture, in 2013, the Asian American Arts Academy became the Korean Performing Arts Academy of America. When asked why the organization’s name was changed, the couple responded, “KPAAA sounds like K-Pop and we wanted to take advantage of the growing popularity of K-Pop and show that there’s even more to Korean music.”
Recognized for her abundant energy and passion, news of Soon He So’s sudden death shocked the local Korean-American community. Ms. So passed away on the morning of her 65th birthday, November 13th, 2021 while being treated for hepatic cancer. “[It] was a complete shock because she was the one that was always taking care of others and motivating them to get better when they are ill.” says Jihwan.
Ms. So leaves behind her loving husband, daughter, son, hundreds of former students and a legacy of sharing Korean traditional music that her students hope to continue.
About the Researcher — Dami Soh Schlobohm
Dami was born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Maryland from the age of five. She studied cello with Ms. Bai Chi Chen, Dr. Franklin Cox, Jr., and Ms. Gita Ladd, and Dr. Benjamin Myers with whom she did her pedagogy training. She earned her B.A. in Cello Performance with an emphasis in Musicology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Fascinated by the many different genres of music and their representative cultures, Dami began studying the music of her heritage and traveled to Korea where she earned her Master’s degree in Korean Musicology from Seoul National University. Using her personal experiences and understanding of music theory, Dami teaches a busy private cello studio and leads traditional Korean drumming workshops in the DC/Metro area. Dami has performed in venues ranging from beach boardwalks to concert halls and records frequently.