Chung Park

Active as a conductor, string pedagogue, and editor, Chung Park teaches at St. Olaf College, leading the St. Olaf and Philharmonia Orchestras and teaching courses in conducting. He has also led orchestra programs at the University of Central Florida, Appalachian State University, Idaho State University and the University of North Dakota. Dr. Park regularly leads clinics and honor orchestras nationwide, with recent and future engagements in California, Kansas, Florida, New York, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Bärenreiter-verlag has recently published his edition of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites in a transcription for viola, the first such edition for the preeminent international publisher. Dr. Park’s primary studies were completed at the Peabody Institute and the University of Miami, where he studied conducting under the renowned composer and conductor Thomas Sleeper.

A lifelong learner, he has continued his education through activities that include studying Dalcroze-Eurythmics, staying abreast of the latest cognitive research, working with master pedagogues such as Marianne Ploger and attending seminars on diversifying the repertoire at the Brevard Music Center. Dr. Park also spent a transformative semester in Hannover, Germany as a private student of Hatto Beyerle, founding violist of the Alban Beg Quartet. Dr. Park believes passionately that music and music education can be a powerfully positive force in a young person’s life and has dedicated a significant portion of his career to supporting music in public schools. He has served on advisory committees, has led several hundred clinics during his time in higher education, is a mentor to young teachers and a resource to established teachers. He is honored to work with and serve his colleagues at all levels as the North-Central Division Representative on the NAFME council. You may reach him at: chpark@stolaf.edu. (2023)