Award-winning Massachusetts-based marching band, "Spirit of America" had chosen Korea for the world premier of their wind opera titled, "A Quest for Honor."

Co-directed by Richard K. Pugsley and Danielle Dwyer, the instrumental opera is the first of its kind to use 17 different instruments in place of voices to tell a story in the form of an opera.

The Spirit of America performed its wind opera at the Taejon Culture Arts Center, the Chungmu Art Hall, and the Yongsan U.S. military base, and the reponses were overwhelming for both the band members and the audience as they were exposed to a wide variety of musical experiences.

The band was also here to represent the U.S. in the World Association of Marching Show Band Championships in Jeju Island. The band, which formed in 1978, consists of 120 volunteers of all ages.