Conductor: CHOI Seung-Han (Korea)
Maestro Seung-Han Choi graduated from Yonsei University with a bachelor’s degree in composition and a Mater’s degree in education. Also he received diploma at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule and graduated from Hochschule der Kuenste Berlin major in Conducting. He served as assistant conductor of Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra and has conducted with many major orchestras in Korea including KBS Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra and also guest conducted the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo New City Symphony Orchestra, Italy Puccini Festival. He conducted the many operas such as ‘La Traviata’, ‘Otello’, ‘Don Carlo’, ‘La Boheme’, ‘Madama Butterfly’ and also ballet works such as ‘Swan Lake’, ‘Giselle’ and ‘The Nutcracker’. He is currently a professor of Yonsei University, College of Music and also Vice-President of Korean Conductors’ Association
Orchestra: Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra(SPO), founded in 1948, is the oldest orchestra in the history of classical music in Korea.
With a singular goal to become a world class orchestra, SPO was re-launched as an incorporated foundation, while replacing almost half of its’ members and appointing Pal-Seung Lee as the first CEO. Under the musical direction of Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, SPO has successfully placed an unprecedented landmark in Korean classical music development, with a wide spectrum of repertoire, ranging from baroque to contemporary, with more than a 100 concerts a year. Commitment to its’ goal is also reflected in the appointment of the first composer-in-residence, Maestra Unsuk Chin, a Korean born world renowned composer, whose works are commissioned and performed by major orchestras and new music groups around the world.
Past subscription seasons include world class conductors such as Charles Dutoit, James Judd, Mikko Frank, Andrey Boreyko, Rosen Milanov, Xian Zhang, Pinchas Zukerman as well as distinguished soloists, Leonidas Kavakos(vn), Illya Gringolts(vn), Viviane Hagner(vn), Hae-sun Kang(vn), Jian Wang(vc), Martin Fröst(cl), Häkan Hardenberger(tp), Gary Graffman(pf), Alexander Melnikov(pf), Nicholas Angelich(pf) and Colin Currie(perc).
In addition to regular subscription concerts, the orchestras’ widely acclaimed community outreach concerts have been key in helping the steady growth of classical music audiences in Korea.
Under the dynamic musical leadership of Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is making a steady leap forward to become a world class orchestra to represent Korea abroad.
*updated November 2007