Dr. Koo, Chun

Dr. Koo Chun is an Korean conductor and educator of choral music who currently serves as the 9th artistic director and conductor of the National Chorus of Korea. Known for his “outstanding/excellent music interpretation,” Dr. Koo had spent two decades in the National Choir as the singer as well as the assistant conductor.

During the early years in the Choir, Dr. Koo also became interested in choral conducting as he was fascinated by the conductor, Youngsoo Nah and his musical interpretation.

Dr. Koo had learned everything about choral conducting under the guidance of the conductor, Youngsoo Nah who became Koo Chun’s mentor later. Eventually, Koo Chun received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Gwangju in South Korea.

Prior to his work from 1988 to 2005, he had taught the choral music at Chu-Gye University. He also had lectured at Jeonju National University, Chonnam National University, Kunsan National University, Yeungnam University, and University of Ulsan. Since 2005, he has taught as professor at the University of Gwangju.

Dr. Koo began his career in choral conducting, as he became the principal conductor at the Jeonju Civic Choir in 2000. During his eight-years tenure, the Jeonju Civic Choir was invited to the Jeju International Choral Festival for five consecutive years and the choir was considered as one of the tops in the country. In 2005, the choir had Midwest touring in the United States which was the their first overseas performance.

Dr. Koo became the director and the chief conductor for the Gwangju Metropolitan Choir in 2007. At that time, He was focused on his energy bringing up the musical quality of the choir. In 2008, his choir was the first choir from Korea to be invited to the Japan Choral Association Seminar. The attendance of the Seminar hailed the choir’s performance as“a wondrous experience.”

In 2012, Dr. Koo was invited to become the artistic director and the conductor for Ulsan Metropolitan Choir. In 2014, the Choir was invited to NCACDA to perform in front of the choir world. In July of 2014, Dr. Koo was appointed as the 9th artistic director of the National Chorus of Korea as he devotes himself for Korean choirs’global recognition.

Professor Nelson Kwei

Raffles Emeritus Professorship in Choral Conducting & The premier choral director of Singapore

Professor Nelson Kwei, the premier choral director of Singapore, is an international acclaimed conductor, conservatorium lecturer, editorial advisor, international adjudicator, music arranger and vocal clinician in the music scene. He is a Fellow from the London College of Music, has a Licentiate in singing from the Guildhall School of Music and Advance Post-Graduate in Choral Conducting from the Royal Academy of Music (London).

In 1993, Professor Kwei was honoured with the “National Youth Service Award”, the highest Youth Award in Singapore, in recognition of his significant contribution in the field of choral art. In 1999, he was awarded with the “Culture Award” by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and in 2001, the Rotary Club honoured him as the “Ambassador of the Arts” for Singapore. In 2011, COMPASS Singapore has awarded Professor Nelson Kwei with the prestigious "Meritorious Award" in view of his outstanding artistic achievement and contribution to the nation.

On the international level, Professor Kwei won the prestigious “Outstanding Choral Director Award” two years in a row at the International Choral Competition in Germany, 1998 & 1999 and also the “Best Conductor Award” at the Petr Eben International Choral Competition 2002 & 2004 in Prague. In recent years, he has led his choirs to 8 Gold Medals including 3 Choir Olympic Champions in the World Choir Games held in Bremen, Germany & Xiamen, China. His choir was also the first Asian choir to win the Grand Prize & Audience Prize at the prestigious Concorso Corale Internazionale held in Riva Del Garda, Italy. In 2008, he was also conferred the “Conductor Prize” in the 10th edition of the internationally-acclaimed choral competition.

Presently, he is an executive member of the National Arts Council’s Advisory Board for Choral Development in Singapore and the NAC external assessor for choral music. He is the Artistic Director of “A Voyage of Songs”, “Jubilate” and “Asia Cantate”, all of which are prominent international choral competitions and festivals. Professor Nelson Kwei is also invited as both clinician and adjudicator in many top international choral festivals and competitions including the World Choir Games Series. Currently, he is the Conductor of many prestigious schools, colleges, university and semi-professional choirs in Singapore that has won numerous national and international accolades.

Professor Randall Johnson

The faculty of the University of Guam (UOG) as a professor of music

Dr. Randall Johnson received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington located in Seattle, Washington. He then joined the faculty of the University of Guam (UOG) as a professor of music. His responsibilities at UOG have been varied through the years and have included Music Theory, Ear Training, Jazz Improvisation, Fundamentals of Music, Introduction to Music, various choirs, voice lessons, saxophone lessons and the ensembles: University Singers and University Jazz Band. Currently he is teaching Ear Training, a small number of voice and saxophone students and directing University Singers (aka The Latte Tones) which is a small auditioned group specializing in a cappella pop and jazz. The Latte Tones have won their a cappella pop/jazz division (and a Gold Award) at Choral Competitions in the Czech Republic, Italy, Guam and, most recently, in Thailand for a second time.

Besides being a music professor UOG, Randall has been an active performer, composer/arranger and clinician. He has performed in and been the bandleader for 17 international music tours for the US Armed Services performing mostly on their Asian, Mediterranean and Caribbean circuits. In fact, it was the military music tours that acquainted Randall with his home on Guam as well as allowing him to travel a considerable amount in South Korea. Randall has about 20 choral publications, mostly with Pavane and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. King Records of Japan gave Randall a recording contract for three CDs of original a cappella arrangements. These CD’s were recorded on Guam by the vocal group “Native Tongues” which was made up of former music students from the University of Guam. Lastly, Randall has been active as a Clinician and Adjudicator many times in Japan and the Philippines and, of course, locally on Guam.

It is a distinct honor to be asked to adjudicate and lecture at the 2019 World Youth Choir Festival. Randall looks forward to hearing some great music and wishes all of the choirs the best in their performances. He is particularly excited about presenting an“interactive” lecture on“Performance Practices is Choral Vocal Jazz!” It should be great fun as well as informative!

Dr. Cool-Jae HUH

The faculty of the University of Guam (UOG) as a professor of music

Dr. Randall Johnson received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington located in Seattle, Washington. He then joined the faculty of the University of Guam (UOG) as a professor of music. His responsibilities at UOG have been varied through the years and have included Music Theory, Ear Training, Jazz Improvisation, Fundamentals of Music, Introduction to Music, various choirs, voice lessons, saxophone lessons and the ensembles: University Singers and University Jazz Band. Currently he is teaching Ear Training, a small number of voice and saxophone students and directing University Singers (aka The Latte Tones) which is a small auditioned group specializing in a cappella pop and jazz. The Latte Tones have won their a cappella pop/jazz division (and a Gold Award) at Choral Competitions in the Czech Republic, Italy, Guam and, most recently, in Thailand for a second time.

Besides being a music professor UOG, Randall has been an active performer, composer/arranger and clinician. He has performed in and been the bandleader for 17 international music tours for the US Armed Services performing mostly on their Asian, Mediterranean and Caribbean circuits. In fact, it was the military music tours that acquainted Randall with his home on Guam as well as allowing him to travel a considerable amount in South Korea. Randall has about 20 choral publications, mostly with Pavane and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. King Records of Japan gave Randall a recording contract for three CDs of original a cappella arrangements. These CD’s were recorded on Guam by the vocal group “Native Tongues” which was made up of former music students from the University of Guam. Lastly, Randall has been active as a Clinician and Adjudicator many times in Japan and the Philippines and, of course, locally on Guam.

It is a distinct honor to be asked to adjudicate and lecture at the 2019 World Youth Choir Festival. Randall looks forward to hearing some great music and wishes all of the choirs the best in their performances. He is particularly excited about presenting an“interactive” lecture on“Performance Practices is Choral Vocal Jazz!” It should be great fun as well as informative!

Petukhova Elena

Petukhova Elena recieved The title of “Best Conductor of children’s choir of Russia.”

Petukhova Elena graduated the Vladivostok Music School with a degree in Choral Conducting (1988), the Far Eastern State Institute of Arts with a degree in Choral Conducting (1993) and postgraduate studies at the Far Eastern State Academy of Arts in creative and performing specialty: Conducting the Academic choir ”(2002).

E. Petukhova is the leader of three choir groups: the choir of the junior classes “Svetlyachok” of the Children’s Art School No. 1. n.a. S. Prokofiev in Vladivostok, high school choir “Alie parusa” and Academic Choir of the Far Eastern Federal University.

Elena Petukhova in 2016 and 2017 worked as a jury chairman of the All-Russian Choir Festival in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District.

The collectives under the direction of E. Petukhova regularly take part in concerts at the level of the city, region and state, occupy prizes of national and international choral competitions and festivals (Japan: 1996, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2015; DPRK: 2003, 2005, 2007 , 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015; South Korea: 2004, 2006, 2011; Italy: 2014; Sri Lanka 2017; Russia: St. Petersburg 2011, 2013, 2017; Sochi 2016 , Greece 2018).

In 2013, the Choir Alie parusa received the Grand Prix at the final stage of the III All-Russian Choir Competition “Singing Childhood” (St. Petersburg), and Petukhova Elena recieved The title of “Best Conductor of children’s choir of Russia.”