South Korean female conductors are making their mark on the global stage. Among them are Kim Eun-sun, music director of the San Francisco Opera; cellist-turned-conductor Chang Han-na, chief conductor of Norway’s Trondheim Symphony Orchestra; and Sung Shi-yeon, principal guest conductor of the Auckland Philharmonia in New Zealand.
Now, another name joins their ranks: S. Korean American conductor Choe Hyun, known in the United States as Holly Choe, has been appointed chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, an ensemble widely recognized for its annual performance at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.
Born in South Korea, Choe moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was 10. In a recent written interview, she recalled how her parents had pursued the “American dream” in hopes of providing better opportunities for their children. Even after settling in the U.S., she said, they continued working in Florida, Texas, and California.
Unlike many talented S. Korean musicians who begin rigorous training in early childhood, Choe started her musical journey later than most. She picked up the clarinet at 13 and taught herself to play, practicing for two to three hours a day using a textbook with an accompanying CD. It wasn’t until she turned 19 that she had her first private lesson—an unconventional path for an aspiring conductor.
Her English name, Holly, was chosen out of practicality. “People in the U.S. had trouble pronouncing ‘Hyun,’ so I looked for a similar-sounding word and settled on the name of the tree often used for Christmas decorations,” she explained.
Choe’s passion for conducting took root in high school, where she led the school’s marching band. “Marching bands are really popular in the U.S., and I first learned how to conduct as the drum major,” she said. Initially, she pursued business and music education in college, but before long, she realized conducting was her true calling.
Determined to refine her skills, she enrolled at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she received formal conducting training. “I had never even listened to a Mahler symphony until I got into NEC,” she recalled. She later continued her studies at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland while also serving as an assistant conductor to renowned maestros Paavo Järvi and Gustavo Dudamel.
“From Järvi, I learned not just conducting techniques but also how to balance the diverse personalities of orchestra members. From Dudamel, I learned how to communicate my musical ideas without fear or force,” she said.
Next year, Choe will officially take up her post as chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Looking ahead, she hopes to champion works by contemporary female composers. “It’s my dream to keep discovering and showcasing the music of living women composers,” she said. “And I can’t wait for the day I get to conduct in S. Korea.”
