Excerpt from Marianas (Micronesia) Variety
FIFTEEN years ago, violinist Dr. In-Hong Cha, known as the “Maestro on Wheelchair,” visited Saipan to entertain community members at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.
On Thursday night, for his third visit to the island, Cha performed in a free concert to help soothe the “pain and hardship” of the people who suffered from the devastation of Typhoon Yutu in October.
“I am terribly sorry for what happened to this small beautiful island,” Cha told members of the audience at Mount Carmel Cathedral.
He said he was impressed by the “presence of a beautiful audience.”
“I’m very grateful to be here,” he added. “I wish you to be strong.”
In his remarks, Mount Carmel School president Galvin Deleon Guerrero said people who have gone through a catastrophic storm can always find joy and peace in music.
“Tonight we are honored to have a world-class musician who has brought beauty to the world,” Deleon Guerrero added.
Jun Ho Park, president of JP Entertainment, which hosted the event, said he was “overwhelmed” by the turnout.
He hopes that Cha will again visit the island and continue to inspire people with his music.
The event, which started at 7:30 p.m., was sponsored by Irish Poll Villa.
Cha was accompanied by pianist Hye Yeon Hwang. They performed Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour,” “Meditation” From The Opera “Thais” by Jules Massenet, “Estrellita,” a Mexican serenade by Ponce and Heifetz, “You Raise Me Up” by Secret Garden, and “Amazing Grace.”
Prior to Cha’s performance, a KBS TV documentary on his life was screened.
Cha is a professor of music at Wright State University in Ohio. He is also the university orchestra’s conductor and director.
A former concertmaster of the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea, Cha has performed all over the U.S., South America, Europe and Asia.
