Chris Younghoon Kim has been at Cornell University as the director of orchestras since 2004. The League of American Orchestras and ASCAP have awarded the first place award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music to the Cornell Orchestras among all collegiate orchestras in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Cornell Symphony Orchestra has hosted two Meet the Composer New Partnership residencies.  He directs the Cornell Chamber Orchestra, the Cornell Symphony Orchestra, teaches conducting and works closely with the DMA composers in presenting their work in concert.

Chris was recently chosen to participate in the 2012 Ensemble Moderne Academy at Klangspuren in Austria. He is also a semi-finalist for the 2013 Bruno Walter Conductor Preview hosted by the League of American Orchestras. Chris' guest conducting activities include

Boston-based groups such as the Firebird Ensemble to the International Bartok Festival in Szombarthely, Hungary, and Divertimento Ensemble in Milan, Italy.

Born in Seoul, Korea and raised in England, California and New Jersey, Chris studied at the Juilliard School’s pre-college division and trained as a music educator at Northwestern University.  After working in Quincy Public school system for two years he received his graduate degree in Orchestral conducting from University of Michigan.  Next stop was New Orleans, Lousiana, where Chris served as the assistant conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for two seasons. Before coming to Cornell, Chris had a three year stay in Boston teaching at Tufts University and Harvard University. Now Ithaca is where Chris makes a home with his wife Kay and his three year old son Ian.

Chris KimGuest Conductor

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