About
“Steve knows how to write music, how to make a music, and how to direct the choir.”
Choongwoo Steve Ko is a 2nd year DMA student 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, where he first performed major choral-orchestral works with Dr. Jerry Blackstone. Following his passion in music, Mr. 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. In 2013, he participated in the Choral Conducting Symposium at University of Michigan with Dr. Jerry Blackstone, Dr. Eugene Rogers, and Dr. Julie Skadsem.
As First Prize winner, Mr. Ko is also a prolific composer. His composition, A Thousand Winds won the first prize in TTBB composition in 2023 at American Choral Directors Association Composition Focus Prize. 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, Ms. Byunghee Oh, Ms. Kyungsuk Cheon, Mr. Hyunchul Lee, and Ms. Crystal Cho. Ko composes based on his biculturalism, his Christian faith, and his choral music education emphasis. The first prize winning composition is published under Pearl Shangkuan series at Hinshaw Music. Ko’s Korean compositions are published through Seoul Chorus Center in South Korea.
As a vocalist, Mr. Ko performed as countertenor and tenor soloist in Baroque 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, Ko performed the complete song cycle, Dichterliebe by R. Schumann. As a choral singer, Mr. Ko performed as an ensemble member with various choirs, such as the Concert Chorale at University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan Choral Union, and Chamber Choir at Eastern Michigan University (currently EMU Choir), and Chamber Singers at Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California with whom Ko sang at ACDA National Convention in 2016. He has sung under the baton of Hans Graf, Peter Oundjian, Jeffery Kahane and many other conductors. Mr. Ko has also been featured in concerts as a pianist.
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 in St. Petersburg, Florida since August, 2018.Also, Ko serves as a music director at Tampa Korean United Methodist Church in Wesley Chapel, Florida where he conducts Zion Choir. Also, Ko is actively leading online seminars about various topics such as American choral music, American choral music education, and choral arrangement in Ms. Woo’s class at Choral Composition Academy held by Seoul Chorus Center.