Jeng Yi was formed in 1998. In 2002, the ensemble performed their first full-length recital of traditional works at Artword Theatre in Toronto. In the following years, the ensemble composed and presented traditional and original works in a series of annual recital. The ensemble has recorded the best of these works for their debut CD, titled The Occasion, released in the fall of 2005.

They have been invited to and performed at the University of Toronto, Sunfest, The Toronto Fringe Dance Festival, The CanAsian Dance Festival, Brampton Folk Festival, Toronto Art Expo, Algoma Fall Festival, the Milk International Children’s Festival and numerous Harbourfront festivals. The ensemble also performed as accompanists in choreographer and composer Peter Chin’s Dora-award winning dance work, Bite.

Charles Hong, Artistic Director

Charles Hong has been drumming and dancing since 1990. From 1992 to 1996, he apprenticed under Kim Duk Soo, master drummer and leader of the world-renowned group, Samulnori. He returned to Toronto in 1996 and soon after founded Jeng Yi. Besides his works with Jeng Yi, he has also performed extensively in dance, music and theatre productions all across Canada including the Guelph Jazz Festival, Canada Dance Festival, Internationalle du la Monde Montreal and McMaster University Concert Series. He has worked with Kiyoshi Nagata, Peter Chin and Yvonne Ng. He is currently teaching a credit course in Korean drumming at York University.