2009 National Orchestra Honors Project

Jung-Ho Pak

Described by the New York Times as a conductor who “radiates enthusiasm”, the Los Angeles Times as “a real grabber”, and twice by the San Diego Union-Tribune as one of the most “impactful people to watch”, Mr. Pak has developed a reputation as a visionary and influential leader. The San Diego Chamber Orchestra’s 2006-7 Season (www.sdco.org) marks the inauguration of Jung-Ho Pak as its new Artistic Director and Conductor. He is also currently in his eighth season as Music Director of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (www.newhavensymphony.org), one of the largest orchestras in the New England region. In 2003, he was appointed Music Director of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. The WYSO is one of the oldest and most well known orchestras of its kind, as well as an international ambassador for the arts and peace. Previously as Music Director of the new San Diego Symphony Orchestra (1997-2002), Mr. Pak led the Orchestra from bankruptcy to a nationally recognized artistic and financial success, and was known for his community involvement and innovative programming. He has served as Music Director with two important music conservatories: the University of Southern California (USC) Symphony and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has also served as Principal Conductor of the Emmy-nominated Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra for eight years and as Music Director of the International Chamber Orchestra, NEXT
Chamber Orchestra, Colburn Chamber Orchestra, and Diablo Ballet. Guest conducting has taken him to Europe, the Soviet Union, South America and Asia. Mr. Pak is also a frequent speaker on television and radio about the relevance of art in society and the importance of music in education.

Mr. Pak has led the New Haven Symphony Orchestra into a new era of artistic excellence and community investment. As he accomplished with the San Diego Symphony, Mr. Pak has helped develop broader audiences by introducing classical, pops, contemporary and world music in a personal and dramatic way. He has visited numerous local schools around the Connecticut area, including leading concerts with the Connecticut All-State
High School Orchestra and the Yale Philharmonia. As the newly-appointed Music Director of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at the Interlochen Center of the Arts, Mr. Pak leads this historic
orchestra made of the most talented young artists from all corners of the globe. He also oversees six other orchestras at the Interlochen Summer Arts Festival. Since its inception in 1998, the new San Diego Symphony under Mr. Pak’s artistic direction performed critically acclaimed concerts, emerging from bankruptcy and
receiving the largest endowment gift in international orchestra history of over $120 million. His innovative creation, the “Light Bulb Series”, is a revolutionary new concept in classical music utilizing multimedia technology, non-classical connections, drama, and theatrical staging in an interactive and approachable way. These concerts reached a younger adult audience while providing traditional audiences a deeper appreciation of classical music.

Succeeding Daniel Lewis, Mr. Pak led a nationally recognized symphony at the University of Southern California. Named by the Los Angeles Times as the number one classical music event in Los Angeles during 1997, the USC Symphony and conducting program under Pak’s direction continued its artistic and institutional growth. In 1987,
Jung-Ho Pak became Music Director of the NEXT Chamber Orchestra in Pennsylvania. With the International Chamber Orchestra from Idyllwild Arts, Mr. Pak had made several recordings and toured the United States. In April of 1996, the ICO was invited to participate in the Kennedy Center’s 25th Anniversary Gala Concert that aired on PBS.
With a strong commitment to the arts in education, Mr. Pak served as Principal Conductor with the Emmy-nominated Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra for eight seasons, broadcasting on the Disney Channel to over 30 million viewers worldwide. In 1990, Mr. Pak concluded a three year tenure as Conductor with the Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles, a position he was awarded after winning the Young Musicians
Foundation National Conducting Competition.

Mr. Pak’s career has taken him around the world (Asia, Europe, Russia, South America) and conducted several recordings. Among the many orchestras he has guest conducted, he has led the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, Bucheon Philharmonic, Akron Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and Prime Philharmonic.