Choongwoo Steve Ko (b. 1985) is a conductor, composer, educator, clinician, and singer. He currently serves at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) in Nacogdoches, Texas, as Interim Associate Director of Choral Activities. In this role, he directs two choirs, Singin' Axes and Kantorei, teaches courses in Choral Conducting, Choral Methods, and Choral Literature, and advises future music educators.
As a conductor, Ko has led performances with ensembles across the United States, including engagements in California, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Florida, and Texas, as well as internationally in Toronto, Ontario (Canada), South Korea, and Norway. Prior to his appointment at SFASU, Ko served as director of the University Tenor/Bass Chorus at The University of Texas at Austin and as director of the Emmanuel Choir at Lord’s Church Austin. His conducting mentors include Drs. JD Burnett, Suzanne Pence, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Tram Sparks, Jerry Blackstone, and Beth Everett, and others.
An accomplished and prolific composer, Ko is the recipient of First Prize in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Composer Focus Prize in 2023. His award-winning work A Thousand Winds is published by Hinshaw Music Publishing. His additional compositions and arrangements are published internationally by Hinshaw Music Publishing, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and Seoul Chorus Center in South Korea. Rooted in his Christian faith and bicultural identity as a Korean American, Ko’s compositional voice reflects a synthesis of Eastern and Western musical traditions. His composition teachers include Dr. Morten Lauridsen, Ms. Hyowon Woo, and Ms. Byunghee Oh. Through his work and professional relationships, Ko actively bridges Korean choral music with the Western choral tradition.
As a music educator, Ko has taught in both Michigan and Florida. He previously served at Keswick Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he directed three choirs, co-taught three bands, and led musical productions as both Executive Director and Music Director. During his time at Keswick, Ko consistently guided five to eight students annually to selection in the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) All-State ensembles. As a clinician, he has presented workshops and clinics for numerous school and church choirs, including TMEA Region 18, Hill Country Middle School, and the Yonsei Glee Club in both the United States and South Korea.
As a singer, Ko has appeared as a tenor and countertenor soloist in major choral-orchestral works, including Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christ lag in Todesbanden, and other Baroque repertoire. He has also performed Robert Schumann’s complete song cycle Dichterliebe. As an ensemble singer, Ko has performed with the University of Michigan Choral Union, EMU Chamber Choir (now EMU Choir), USC Chamber Singers, UT Concert Chorale, Austin Cantorum and many other choirs. Notably, he performed at the 2015 ACDA National Conference in Salt Lake City as a member of the USC Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe.
As a musicologist, Ko’s scholarly interests center on the dissemination of performance practice knowledge—particularly technique, diction, and stylistic considerations—essential to the accurate interpretation and performance of Korean choral music. Ko's connection to Korean choral music composers continuously introduces Korean choral music to Western choral world. Evocation by Hye-Young Cho (Santa Barbara Music Publishing), Requiem by Hyowon Woo (Walton) and Clementine by Byunghee Oh, which was performed NCCO 2025 are great examples.
Academic Degrees:
DMA in Choral Conducting - The University of Texas at Austin
MM in Choral Music - University of Southern California
BS in Music with Piano Emphasis - Eastern Michigan University
BSE in Electrical Engineering - The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor