Soo-Yeoul Choi
About this Artist
Soo-Yeoul Choi is the principal guest conductor of the Korean Chamber Orchestra, the oldest chamber orchestra in South Korea. He is also an assistant professor of conducting at Yonsei University. Prior posts include the artistic director and chief conductor of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra (2017-2023) and the associate conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (2014-2017), working with its director, Myung-Whun Chung and its composer-in-residence, Unsuk Chin.
During his time with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Choi conducted the complete tone poems of Richard Strauss (2017-2019) and the orchestral works of Ravel (2020-2022). He is passionate about bringing contemporary music to life on stage, with a particular focus on the works of Korean composers Isang Yun, Unsuk Chin, Donghoon Shin, and Texu Kim.
Choi's education includes studies at the Korea National University of Arts and further training at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, supported by a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship. He also participated in the prestigious International Ensemble Modern Academy as a conducting fellow.
Choi participated in the final round of the 50th Besançon International Conducting Competition and has assisted esteemed maestros such as Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Christoph Eschenbach, and Peter Eötvös. His conducting engagements span numerous esteemed ensembles, including the MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, Cologne Chamber Orchestra, China NCPA Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, and most major orchestras in Korea. He has also been a frequent performer with the National Orchestra of Korea and Ensemble TIMF.