Hyowon Woo composer
-Professor, Korean Choral Composition Academy
-Director, Korean Church Music Association
-Former resident composer, The National Chorus of Korea
-Former resident composer, Incheon City Chorale and Seoul Ladies Singers
-Former visiting scholar, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
-Published by the Seoul Chorus Center, Walton Music, and Hal Leonard
Biography
Renowned as one of Korea's leading composers, Hyowon Woo stands as a formidable force within the realm of choral music. Her innovative creations weave together traditional Korean musical elements and Western techniques, showcasing a distinctive use of language nuance that elevates her works to groundbreaking heights. Often incorporating Latin, Korean, or English texts, she skillfully transforms the essence of words into an artistic realm through playful spatial music.
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Since 1996, Woo has held the esteemed position of composer-in-residence with the Seoul Ladies' Singers. Additionally, she played a pivotal role with the Incheon City Chorale, led by the globally acclaimed Hak-won Yoon, from 1999 to 2014. Over two decades of collaboration between Woo and Mr. Yoon have charted a new course for choral music in Korea.
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Woo's compositions enjoy global acclaim, having been celebrated at prestigious events such as the 2009 ACDA National Conference, Polyfolia in France, and the IFCM choral symposium. Previously an instructor at the Seoul Theological Seminary and Hansei University, as well as a visiting fellow at the University of Michigan, she currently serves as faculty at the Chorus Center Academy in Seoul.
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As a prolific composer, Woo has produced an impressive body of work, spanning hymn and spiritual arrangements, solos, cantatas, requiems, polyphonic motets, and chamber music. Her monumental choral symphonic pieces, commissioned by the Korean Ministry of Culture and premiered by the Korean National Chorus, underscore her significant contributions to the genre. Some of her compositions are published by Walton Music in the United States and the Seoul Chorus Center in South Korea, with numerous others in the process of publication in the States.
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In collaboration with Dr. MeeAe Nam, her artistic partner, Woo has recently co-founded the Ari project, a groundbreaking choral performance platform dedicated to introducing the history, spirit, and culture of South Korea. Notably, Woo is spearheading a revolutionary new chorus genre, "Choral Drama," under the Ari project, set to make its world premiere in the United States in 2023.