Helen Cha-Pyo
Encyclopedia
Helen Cha-Pyo is a Korean-born American conductor
and organist
. The Mail Tribune of Oregon describes her as being "on the front edge of a lustrous career as a conductor.”
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Cha-Pyo won numerous competitions and awards as a young pianist, including Grand Prize in the Young Musicians Competition in Los Angeles. At age 13, her family migrated from South Korea to the United States and settled near Poughkeepsie, New York
. Before graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1986, Cha-Pyo had already studied both piano and organ at The Juilliard School (pre-college division) in New York City.
After graduating from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
in Ohio, Cha-Pyo relocated to Rochester, New York
, where she earned Master of Music degrees in both conducting and organ performance from Eastman School of Music
. While at Eastman, Cha-Pyo served as the Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Philharmonia and the Eastman Chorale, and studied with the organist David Higgs
. Cha-Pyo was the recipient of the Charles Nicholls Memorial Award at Eastman.
From 1996 through June 2003, Helen served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Riverside Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in New York City. She also served as the Associate Director of Music at Riverside Church
in New York City. Cha-Pyo also pioneered the Riverside Music Educational Program, which currently serves thousands of inner-city students in New York City. Since 1995 she has been the Assistant Conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon
and has guest conducted several orchestras and choruses throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. Cha-Pyo has conducted orchestras such as the Altenberg Festival Orchestra, Beethoven Chamber Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
, Eastman Philharmonia, Aspen Music Festival Chamber Orchestra, New Washington Symphony Orchestra, and the Washington Korean Orchestra. She has also served as the Musical Advisor at the Rachmaninoff International Music Festival in Russia. As winner of the 1992 John Rodland Memorial Organ Competition sponsored by the American Guild of Organists
, she performed numerous organ recitals throughout the Northeastern United States and Asia, including appearances with symphony orchestras as an organ soloist.
In 1999, Cha-Pyo worked with the Asian Youth Orchestra
in Hong Kong
, as the rehearsal conductor and assistant to Sergiu Comissiona
. That same year, she conducted the U.S. premiere of "A Garland for Linda," a musical tribute to Linda McCartney
. In the fall of 2000, Cha-Pyo conducted the world premiere performance of "No Easy Walk to Freedom," an opera based on the life of Nelson Mandela
, at the New Opera Festival at Hofstra University
.
Cha-Pyo has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra
in Albany, New York
since September 2002.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
. The Mail Tribune of Oregon describes her as being "on the front edge of a lustrous career as a conductor.”
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Cha-Pyo won numerous competitions and awards as a young pianist, including Grand Prize in the Young Musicians Competition in Los Angeles. At age 13, her family migrated from South Korea to the United States and settled near Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. Before graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1986, Cha-Pyo had already studied both piano and organ at The Juilliard School (pre-college division) in New York City.
After graduating from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, located on the campus of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Students of Oberlin Conservatory enter a very broad network within the music world, as the school's alumni...
in Ohio, Cha-Pyo relocated to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, where she earned Master of Music degrees in both conducting and organ performance from Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
. While at Eastman, Cha-Pyo served as the Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Philharmonia and the Eastman Chorale, and studied with the organist David Higgs
David Higgs
David Higgs is an American organist. He has given a large number of recitals and is the head of the organ department at the Eastman School of Music.- Life :...
. Cha-Pyo was the recipient of the Charles Nicholls Memorial Award at Eastman.
From 1996 through June 2003, Helen served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Riverside Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in New York City. She also served as the Associate Director of Music at Riverside Church
Riverside Church
The Riverside Church in the City of New York is an interdenominational church in New York City, famous for its elaborate Neo-Gothic architecture—which includes the world's largest tuned carillon bell...
in New York City. Cha-Pyo also pioneered the Riverside Music Educational Program, which currently serves thousands of inner-city students in New York City. Since 1995 she has been the Assistant Conductor of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, a few miles west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which runs through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes Jacksonville Historic District which was designated a U.S....
and has guest conducted several orchestras and choruses throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. Cha-Pyo has conducted orchestras such as the Altenberg Festival Orchestra, Beethoven Chamber Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway.-History:...
, Eastman Philharmonia, Aspen Music Festival Chamber Orchestra, New Washington Symphony Orchestra, and the Washington Korean Orchestra. She has also served as the Musical Advisor at the Rachmaninoff International Music Festival in Russia. As winner of the 1992 John Rodland Memorial Organ Competition sponsored by the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
, she performed numerous organ recitals throughout the Northeastern United States and Asia, including appearances with symphony orchestras as an organ soloist.
In 1999, Cha-Pyo worked with the Asian Youth Orchestra
Asian Youth Orchestra
The Asian Youth Orchestra was founded by Yehudi Menuhin & Richard Pontzious. Their inaugural concerts were conducted in August 1990 by Yehudi Menuhin. Sergiu Comissiona is their conductor laureate and Richard Pontzious, artistic director and conductor...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, as the rehearsal conductor and assistant to Sergiu Comissiona
Sergiu Comissiona
Sergiu Comissiona was a Romanian conductor and violinist.-Early life:...
. That same year, she conducted the U.S. premiere of "A Garland for Linda," a musical tribute to Linda McCartney
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
. In the fall of 2000, Cha-Pyo conducted the world premiere performance of "No Easy Walk to Freedom," an opera based on the life of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, at the New Opera Festival at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
.
Cha-Pyo has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra
Empire State Youth Orchestra
Empire State Youth Orchestras was founded as a single orchestra in 1979 by a group of dedicated parents and music educators. Today's ESYO consists of nine performing ensembles: two full orchestras, a wind orchestra, a string ensemble, two jazz ensembles, and three percussion ensembles...
in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
since September 2002.