Group donates $1,200 to support the Somang Society in Orange County

KAMCA

By Grace Kim

LW contributor

The Korean American Classical Music Academy was founded in 2012 out of a desire for people to be able to appreciate and talk about classical music with other people who shared the same interests. The group most enjoys listening to beautiful symphony and opera tracks while learning about the composers and their great works.

Before COVID-19, more than 80 members would meet at least three days each month. The members soon felt like family to one another as they bonded while listening to classical music.

KACMA is fortunate to have two volunteer instructors, Dr. Robert Chung and Ken Chong. They love music and always bring high-level knowledge and teaching for each meeting. They spend so much time to prepare for this class.

Every year Chong puts together a collection of all the lessons that he provided for KAMCA to give to each member to enjoy for free.

The most current book, which included the meetings from January 2019–March 2020 was filled with comprehensive, beautiful and wonderful resources for all of the members to enjoy for further reading. Both Chong and Chung put a lot of energy and time into it, but unfortunately could not pass it out during a group meeting.

The class officers asked for donations when members came to pick up the booklet during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will be donated to support a non-profit organization. Many class members donated when they picked up their book.

Once the money was collected, officers visited the Somang Society office and donated $1,200. The organization has done visionary and pioneering work for the Korean-American community in California over the last 12 years. Its main office is located in Cypress, California.

The Somang Society provides educational programs such as wellbeing, well-aging, well-dying, preparing wills, simple funeral service, an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group and grief support groups.

KACMA is very grateful to have been able to make one small contribution to the work of Somang Society during this unprecedented global crisis.