About

Hello,

As a conductor, my work is driven by two core values: a passionate commitment to the excellence of musicmaking, and the conviction that an orchestra’s greatest asset is its people. Whether I’m on the podium for the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, the St. Olaf Philharmonia, or the Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestras (SEMYO), my goal is to bring vibrant energy, warmth, and a dedication to excellence to every rehearsal while keeping a genuine care for the musicians at the center of everything I do.

I’m a proud native Minnesotan, and I grew up right here in Eden Prairie. My path to the podium started in high school, largely thanks to my band director, Dr. Elizabeth Jackson. Under her inspirational mentorship, I experienced firsthand the transformative power of music to build genuine community and make people feel valued. She taught me that a conductor’s first responsibility is to care for the human beings behind the instruments. That philosophy inspired me to begin my journey in music education, which ultimately led me to conducting.

My musical training took me to Vanderbilt University for my Bachelor of Musical Arts and to Ithaca College for my Master’s in Orchestral Conducting. While at Vanderbilt, I founded the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra—a student ensemble that, to my immense pride, still thrives nearly fifteen years later with over a hundred musicians. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as Interim Director of Orchestras at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Music Director of the Ithaca College Sinfonietta, and Principal Conductor of the contemporary ensemble un/pitched. I’ve also been fortunate to collaborate with incredible soloists like Jeremy Wilson, Peter Sheppard-Skærved, and Malcolm Bilson, and to guest conduct across North America and Europe, with performances in Berlin (Germany), Czech Republic, Cyprus, St. Petersburg (Russia), and Sofia (Bulgaria).

I hope to see you at an upcoming concert, and thank you for taking the time to visit my website.

Keehun