A lingering memory: St George's Bristol

Each performance leaves a mark on a musician, though some stand out for their quiet, lasting beauty. For classical guitarist Sungbin Cho, one such performance was the February lunchtime concert at St George’s Bristol. This particular recital left a lingering impression on not only those who were there to listen, but on Sungbin as well.

St George’s is known for its acoustics and holds a special reputation among musicians. Sungbin had heard about the venue and looked forward to the day he might perform there. He finds great joy in performing for new audiences in new places, and once the date for the Bristol recital was confirmed, his excitement grew—not just for the opportunity to play in a respected hall, but also for the anticipation of the new faces and fresh energy that awaited him.

On the day, Sungbin remembers arriving early with his team, being welcomed by the attentive staff at the venue. He recalls stepping into the quiet hall of St George's and taking in the stillness of the venue before anyone else entered. There is a certain atmosphere before a performance- a calm yet anticipatory stillness in the air, as if quietly waiting for the music to break the silence.

For Sungbin, one of the most meaningful aspects of performing is the connection he feels with the audience - and at St George's, he felt that connection was immediate. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, he felt welcomed. What stood out the most for Sungbin was the feeling of the shared breath that began early in the performance and lasted through to the final note. “I always cherish that feeling of breathing with the audience while playing,” he said. “And this was one of those concerts where I could really feel it from the start.” The concert itself flowed naturally. Sungbin performed a programme close to his heart- pieces he had spent time with and grown into. He was given the opportunity to share this with the audience, by briefly talking about his personal connection with each piece before it was performed. Sungbin reflects on why this particular concert remains vivid - it was the sincerity. The way the music was received, and the sense of mutual presence between performer and listener gave the concert lasting meaning.

After the concert, he happened to bump into some of the audience exiting the hall. Many took a moment to stop and share a kind word about the performance - small, warm expressions of appreciation that left a big impact. “As a performer, I always hope to offer something meaningful through my music. At St George's, being able to hear that feedback directly from the audience - right after the performance - seeing that the music had reached them, was heartening and rewarding." Sungbin is a musician who particulary holds personal memories with the pieces he performs, and he described how playing them at St George’s gave them additional meanings. “Those moments at Bristol became new memories attached to the pieces themselves. I’ll carry that with me whenever I perform these pieces now” he shared.

He closed his reflections with sincere gratitude: to the audience for their warmth, and to St George’s for the opportunity. “I truly want to thank everyone who was there and everyone who made the concert possible. I look forward to sharing another special moment with you with new repotoires that I am preparing." As we look back on the recital at St George’s Bristol, Sungbin carries with him not only the memories of the performance but also the heartfelt connections made with the audience.

The journey now continues, and Sungbin is excited to see where the music will take him next. As Sungbin continues to grow and perform, he carries memories like this one as a source of grounding and inspiration.

You can listen to one of the pieces [Woven World by Andrew York] performed on this day at St George's Bristol in the video below!

Stay tuned for the next blog post, where we’ll explore another chapter in Sungbin's evolving musical story.