Harmonicas in Harmony

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In aid of Summertown Arts Community, Registered Charity No. 1213117 - please help us save this precious arts space for everyone in the community and beyond. Find out more:
http://summertownarts.co.uk/
Artists:
Shima Kobayashi, chromatic harmonica
Yoonseok Lee, chromatic harmonica
Bohdan Reshetilov, piano
This is the long awaited collaboration between Shima, who is based in the UK and pursues unique musical activities centred on Japan and the UK, and Yoonseok, from South Korea, whose performing career has blossomed worldwide. It will be a musical moment woven together by two chromatic harmonicas and piano. At times gentle, at times powerful, the music speaks direct to the heart.
The programme includes works written for two harmonicas, such as F. Walter’s Duettino and G.Jacob’s Introduction and Galop, as well as solo pieces from each artist’s repertoire, such as J.Moody’s Toledo and G. Martin’s Three American Sketches. In addition, Ukrainian pianist and composer Bohdan, who will accompany Shima and Yoonseok, will perform his own piano solo piece Find a Peace.
You can look forward to a concert that will showcase the rich musical talents of three musicians from Japan, South Korea and Ukraine.
Refreshments available for donations
Shima Kobayashi (Chromatic Harmonica)
Born in Tokyo, Japan and based in the UK since 2004. After winning the World Harmonica Championships in 1995, Shima studied chromatic harmonica with Tommy Reilly in the UK under the Japanese Government Overseas Study Programme for Artists. Shima’ has recorded two solo albums 'Golden Girl' and 'Chromatic!’ (FONTEC). Her repertoire includes classical harmonica works written since the 1950s, including chamber music and larger works such as harmonica concertos; she is passionate to create new works for the harmonica in collaboration with contemporary composers. Recent projects include solo appearances for harmonica concertos by M. Spivakovsky and R. Farnon, recitals in Tokyo and Norway, and an interactive UK-Japan community project to support charitable causes.
She gives tuition on chromatic harmonica in the classical style, music workshops and seminars to people of all ages to increase involvement in playing the harmonica and in sharing the undiscovered charm of chromatic harmonica music with the next generation of musicians.
www.shimaharmonica.com
Yoonseok Lee
Yoonseok Lee is one of South Korea’s leading classical harmonica players. He graduated with highest honours in musicology from Seoul National University and was the first student ever to major in harmonica at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Norges musikkhøgskole) in Oslo, where he studied under legendary virtuoso Sigmund Groven.
Lee has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras including the Incheon, Seongnam, Changwon, and Cheongju Philharmonic Orchestras, and has performed at some of Korea’s most prestigious venues, such as the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center, and Kumho Art Hall, playing a key role in expanding the artistic scope and recognition of the harmonica in classical music.
His international career has taken him across the world, including performances in Japan, Norway, Singapore, Tunisia, and Hawaii. In 2025, he became the first Korean appointed as a jury member of the World Harmonica Festival in Germany—an important milestone for Korean harmonica on the global stage. Lee currently serves as a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Arts and Culture at Myongji University, where he is deeply engaged in harmonica education and cultural outreach.

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