Conductor, University Tenor/Bass Chorus Teaching Assistant in Choral Conducting
Choongwoo (Steve) Ko is beginning his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin after several years teaching in Florida schools. Ko holds the Master of Music in Choral Music at the University of Southern California, where he studied with Drs. Jo-Michael Scheibe, Nick Strimple, Cristian Grases, and Tram Sparks. He holds a B. S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where he first performed major choral-orchestral works with Dr. Jerry Blackstone. Following his passion in music, Ko earned a second bachelor’s degree, in music, at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. At EMU, he studied voice with Dr. MeeAe Cecilia Nam, piano with Dr. Hyun-jin Lim, and conducting with Dr. Beth Everett and Mary Schneider. Ko also has studied conducting with Drs. Jerry Blackstone, Eugene Rogers, Simon Carrington, Rodney Eichenberger, Jamie Hillman and Hilary Apfelstadt. Ko holds his teaching certificate in K-12 vocal music in the State of Michigan and Florida and from ACSI.
As a vocalist, Mr. Ko performed as countertenor and tenor soloist on Baroque cantatas and oratorios and choral masterworks with numerous church choirs, including First Presbyterian Church Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor Hope Church, and St. James United Church of Christ. Also, Mr. Ko has performed German Lieder, American Art Songs, and Korean sacred music. As a choral singer, Mr. Ko performed as an ensemble member with various choirs, such as the University of Michigan Choral Union, and Chamber Choir at EMU, and Chamber Singers at Thornton School of Music at USC. He has sung under the baton of Hans Graf, Peter Oundjian, Jeffrey Kahane and many others. As a member of USC Thornton Chamber Singers, Ko sang at the American Choral Directors’ Association 2015 National Convention in Salt Lake City under the direction of Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe.