Dr. Tammy S. Yi is a distinguished first-generation Korean American conductor and music education scholar whose artistry and scholarship are deeply rooted in the transformative power of music. Renowned for her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence and social transformation, Dr. Yi is a passionate advocate for social change through the performing arts, dedicating her career to inspiring and empowering young musicians worldwide.

As an international conductor, Dr. Yi’s expansive portfolio spans both professional and youth orchestras across the globe, with notable engagements in South Korea, Thailand, South America, Europe, and throughout the United States. She has led international El Sistema orchestras, conducted the California, Florida, and Texas All-State Orchestras, and directed honor ensembles in Tennessee, New York, and Nevada—earning widespread recognition for her dynamic leadership and artistic vision. As a Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellow with the Orchestra of the Americas, she continues to make an indelible impact on the global stage.

Beyond the podium, Dr. Yi stands out as a transformative leader in music education and pedagogy. Her influential book, Culturally Responsive Pedagogies for the Orchestra: Untold Stories of Seating Oppression and the Uprise of Social Justice, challenges conventional norms and amplifies historically excluded voices within orchestral spaces. In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Yi empowers pre-K–12 music educators through mentorship, facilitates dynamic professional development for teaching artists, coaches emerging conductors, and crafts innovative curricula for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. By seamlessly integrating pedagogy with performance, she bridges the worlds of artistic excellence and educational innovation, demonstrating music’s profound capacity to inspire, educate, and transform communities.

Dr. Yi currently serves as the conductor of the YOLA Institute Youth Orchestra, is an Associate Professor and Director of Music Education at Chapman University, and teaches graduate courses in music performance research and pedagogy at the Colburn Conservatory of Music.