What is AK·GA·MU?
Ak-Ga-Mu (악가무) — pronounced Ahk-gah-moo — is a traditional Korean concept that refers to the harmonious union of music (Ak), song (Ga), and dance (Mu). It represents the harmony and spirit at the heart of Korean traditional performing arts.
Join us on May 2, 2026, at 8pm to experience this living tradition — live, together.
The Meaning of Ak-Ga-Mu in Korean Traditional Arts
In traditional Korean performances — such as court music, folk rituals, pansori, and dance — musicians, singers, and dancers interact continuously. The rhythm responds to movement, movement follows breath and melody, and the performer’s inner emotion (heung and han) shapes the entire performance.
Ak-Ga-Mu represents:
the unity of body and sound
the connection between performer and audience
the spirit of community and shared emotion
the traditional Korean worldview where art, life, and ritual are inseparable
Rather than emphasizing perfection or spectacle, Ak-Ga-Mu values living expression — art that breathes, adapts, and resonates in the moment.
Meet the Performers
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John Lee
Daegeum & Korean Percussion
John (Taewook) Lee is a Korean-Canadian musician and photographer who plays traditional percussion and daegeum. He began learning samulnori at seven years old and continued studying under Samulnori Canada’s Chris Baek after immigrating to Canada in 2000. Over the years, John has toured and performed with a range of ensembles and multidisciplinary projects across Canada.
Now serving as President of the Korean Traditional Music Association of Canada and leader of the fusion band Haneum, John’s work primarily reflects his identity and experience growing up between cultures. Rooted in Korean traditional rhythms and shaped by the uniquely diverse musical environment of Toronto, his artistic focus is on blending tradition with western influences to resonate with a wider audience while staying true to his heritage.
Roa Lee
Gayageum
Roa (HyunYoung) Lee is a composer and gayageum musician dedicated to redefining the boundaries of traditional Korean music. Beginning her journey at the age of seven and receiving formal training in traditional performing arts, she has evolved into a fearless musical challenger based in Toronto. While her music is deeply rooted in Korean tradition, she continues to experiment with diverse sounds, as showcased in her recently released fusion music EP.
A member of the Labyrinth Ensemble and a teacher, she’s performed with and at Small World Music, the Aga Khan Museum, Harbourfront Centre, the Four Seasons Centre, the Korean Traditional Music Association of Canada, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto, several municipal orchestras, and more.
Sangah Lee
Pansori & Folk Song
Dr. Sangah Lee is a Toronto-based ethnomusicologist and artist specializing in pansori, a traditional Korean storytelling vocal genre. As founder and Artistic Director of the Canada Pansori Center, she organizes and leads community-oriented voice workshops that promote Korean cultural traditions and create inclusive spaces for artistic expression.
Dr. Lee’s practice bridges tradition and contemporary resonance, integrating classical pansori training with explorations of diasporic experiences to sustain the art form as a living practice.
She holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in Korean Music from Ewha Womans University, and currently teaches at the University of Toronto, the Korean Cultural Centre Canada, and the Korean Education Affairs Section of the Korean Consulate General in Toronto.
Her recent work includes “SORI25,” a community-driven initiative, and “Pan: Sori,” Canada’s first collaborative pansori-focused event. Through performances with multicultural bands and partnerships with community organizations, Dr. Lee actively cultivates intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue, providing platforms for self-expression among diverse and underserved populations.
Jihyun Back
Korean Dance
Jihyun Back is a Toronto-based Korean traditional dancer, percussionist, and choreographer. She trained with the Little Angels Dance Company in Korea and later performed professionally for five years with the Uijeongbu Municipal Dance Company, building a strong foundation in both traditional and contemporary stage practice.
Since moving to Canada in 2020, she has worked as a performing and teaching artist, presenting performances and workshops across festivals, museums, schools, and community spaces. From 2024 to 2025, she completed a two-year Artist-in-Residence with Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers (RAW Taiko) and continues to engage with the organization through performances and workshops.
Guided by her belief that “a nation thrives when its culture flourishes,” Jihyun shares Korean traditional arts with diverse communities through performance and education.
About KTMAC
Korean Traditional Music Association of Canada (KTMAC) is a not-for-profit organization. The organization’s mandate is to educate and spread Korean traditional music to diverse audiences, and connect with other cultural music forms to enlighten and enrich the Canadian music landscape.
Our Sponsors
This performance is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and the shared commitment of our community.
