Korean Traditional Music Concert to Benefit Willows Air Memorial at Chico State

Next week, Chico State University will host a special performance by a group of South Korean musicians. This event, titled 'The Sound of Korea,' aims to raise awareness and support for the planned Willows Air Memorial. The concert is set to begin at 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday at the Bell Memorial Union located on campus, and admission will be free, though donations to the memorial are encouraged.

A Musical Tribute to Heritage and History

The performers hail from the Seoul National University Korean Traditional Music Troupe and comprise nine students proficient in both vocal and a range of eight traditional Korean instruments. As they share their cultural music, they also support the promotion of historical ties between Korea and the United States, specifically through the medium of aviation history.

Willows Air Memorial: Celebrating a Shared Past

Laurie Woodward, a board member of the Willows Air Memorial, emphasizes the importance of support and awareness in establishing a museum at the Glenn County-Willows Airport. The memorial not only seeks to honor the history of the airport's involvement in the 1920s air mail routes but also the Korean Air Force flight school of the 1920s, the Doolittle Raiders' WWII efforts, and innovations by Glenn County's Floyd Nolta.

Particularly notable is the airfield's link to a short-lived Korean flight school from the 1920s, which was set up by Kim Chong-Lim, a local rice farmer of Korean descent. Although the flood soon eradicated this school, it stands as a significant historical occurrence, contributing to the creation of the Korean Air Force.

Ki-Won Rhew: Connecting Cultures Through Music

Ki-Won Rhew, the association's president and Eugene, Oregon resident, was instrumental in arranging for the Korean musicians' visit to Chico. His connections and effective coordination are part of a broader effort to raise awareness about the contributions of Korean aviators and the Glenn County community to aviation history. Rhew's research illuminated the impact of the short-lived flight school and its pivotal role in the early days of the Korean Air Force.

As the group continues to share their music beyond Chico, with performances scheduled in Seattle and San Francisco, they carry with them a story of perseverance and cross-cultural kinship that is deeply woven into the fabric of aviation history.

Korea, Concert, Memorial