In 2012, the Samulnori performance team assimilated with the goal of helping Korean-American students in the Bay Area connect with their identity and pride as a Korean through Korean culture. Despite starting from a small group of eleven students, the team quickly grew to encompass various aspects of traditional Korean performing arts.

The most fundamental basis of the group is Samulnori, a visual performing art derived from Pungmulnori that focuses on indoor performances. Like Pungmulnori, Samulnori is based around 4 basic instruments that mimic the rich sounds of nature: the buk, clouds, the janggu, rain, the quengari, thunder, and jing, the wind. Through a combination of coordinated choreography and synchronized playing, Samulnori delivers a harmonious combination of percussion melodies and choreographic coordination that conveys energetic enthusiasm and cheer to both its performers and audience.

Led by Director Misuk Ko and Sang-ho Kim , the performance team practices weekly and attends community performances and events. Even during the imposed quarantine, the members of Samulnori team have worked diligently to coordinate online practice through weekly zoom calls and monthly socially distanced meetings.

Samulnori performs in cultural celebrations across the Bay Area, participating in community events. It has annually partaken in Dougherty Valley high school’s cultural showcase night and San Ramon’s Art and Wind Festivals, as well as received invitations to celebrate the opening of San Ramon’s Community Center.

In 2017 the Samulnori team expanded to encompass traditional mask dancing, performing at the 9th Annual Gukak Competition in LA and winning first place. It has continued to include more and more performing arts with its new Seoljanggu team and will strive to continue to involve more students interested in Korean culture.

Please forward all questions regarding the Samulnori Team to [email protected].