Choongwoo Steve Ko is an ABD in Choral Conducting at University of Texas at Austin. He is currently studying with Drs. JD Burnett and Suzanne Pence. Ko also holds the Master of Music in Choral Music at the University of Southern California, where he studied with Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe, Dr. Nick Strimple, Dr. Cristian Grases, Dr. Tram Sparks, and Dr. Morten Lauridsen. Prior to his study in music, Ko earned a B. S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. 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.

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Ko is a prolific composer. His composition A Thousand Winds won the First Prize in TTBB Composition of the Initiative ACDA Composer Focus Prize in 2023. Ko started to study composition with Prof. Hyo-won Woo, the most well-known Korean composer. Ko’s composition teachers include Dr. Morten Lauridsen, Ms. Hyowon Woo and Ms. Byunghee Oh. Ko composes based on his biculturalism (Korean American), his Christian faith, and his choral music education emphasis. His Compositions are published through Hinshaw Music and Seoul Chorus Center in Seoul, South Korea.

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As a vocalist, Mr. Ko performed as countertenor and tenor soloist in Baroque oratorios and choral masterworks with numerous church choirs in South Eastern Michigan area, and Western Central Florida. Also, Ko performed the complete Lieder cycle, Dichterliebe by R. Schumann. As a choral singer, Ko has sung under the direction of Hans Graf, Peter Oundjian, Jeffery Kahane and many other conductors. 

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As a clinician and a teacher, Ko conducted Region 18 in TCDA and many local middle schools and high schools. Prior to his doctoral program of study, Ko taught 6th through 12th grade choir program and musical program and co-taught the instrumental ensemble program at Keswick Christian School. As a church musician, Ko has directed numerous church choirs and given seminars to local churches.