Should the Sun Hak Choir sing at the banquet for True Mother? Are they mature enough? Skilled enough? Professional enough? Only the best is good enough for True Mother. The final word came: yes, the Sun Hak Choir should prepare several Korean songs to be performed at True Mother's banquet. For this the choir rehearsed three times a week for three weeks prior to the event. Such an intense schedule was an accomplishment in itself when you think of the challenge involved in bringing 20 families together in one place, not just one time, but nine times.

Just who is the Sun Hak Choir? Three years ago, when True Mother spoke in Idaho on her speaking tour, a small group of eight children, ages five to nine, organized themselves to drive to Idaho and sing a number of songs at her speech. After the speech True Mother herself gave the group the name "Sun Hak," derived from "Hak Ja Han" and "Sun Myung Moon." At the time of the naming, Mother challenged the choir to develop themselves both in music skills and in Korean language. Now, three years later, 26 strong and ages eight to twelve, the choir was anxious to show Mother just what they had accomplished. For the last two years under the supervision of Nancy Kubo, a specialist in early childhood music, the choir mastered a repertoire of four Korean songs in two-part harmony as well as many selections in choral sacred music, which the choir performs regularly on major church holidays in Seattle.

Having performed at True Father's speech in Sept. 1995 and at a Sisterhood Ceremony in Dec. 1995, the choir was confident it could meet the challenge of enhancing True Mother's banquet with a performance exceeding comparison. And it happened-their young tender voices blended together in two beautiful Korean melodies with enchanting harmonies which touched the heart of every person in the Korean audience, not to mention True Mother herself. Such a unique and capable choir is not to be found anywhere else-unique in its repertoire of Korean music, capable in its ability to sing in choral harmony at such a young age.

After the banquet, there was a celebration gathering with Mother and members, with True Father present by telephone from East Garden. Members caroled Father and Mother, then Father sang for us; the choir was privileged to sing two more Korean songs for Father and others at East Garden to hear. Afterwards, the choir was all gathered at True Mother's feet, listening to every word she said with close attention. When True Mother sang "Ko Hyong Eh Pom," she motioned for the choir to join in with her, and they did just that-not just the first verse, but both verses in Korean from memory and in harmony. That was the highlight of the day-to sing a Korean song with Mother herself. At the end of the evening, Mother had the choir stand up and then proceed to present a brand-new one-hundred-dollar bill to each and every choir member, who in turn bowed and beamed from ear to ear with gratitude to Mother and pride in their accomplishment. It was a night they would never forget.

The next day, at Windermere (Father's house in Seattle), a large blow- up of the logo of the choir, recently designed by David Hose, Jr., was presented to True Mother for her to sing as a gesture of official dedication. It hangs now at Windermere House for all to see and to be reminded of this special time of True Mother's visit to Seattle in July 1996, when she touched the Sun Hak Choir in many unforgettable ways.

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