JIYOUNG KO

Born in Korea, Jiyoung Ko is a composer of orchestral, chamber, and vocal music. Her compositions are infused with underlying narratives that play a pivotal role in guiding her artistic choices. Jiyoung writes music primarily about people, landscapes, and experiences, and her affinity for dense and rich textures, resonant hues, and poetic and delicate melodies shines through in all of her creations. Her compositions encompass a wide range of styles - from cutting edge to traditional - which are relatable to both the ordinary and professional listener. One of her pieces was described as a “brilliant study in timbre, tone, and color…a haunting piece.” (AB Newswire)

​

Her work has been performed in the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Germany by various ensembles, orchestras and musicians, including the Grand Rapids Symphony, Mivos Quartet, Dal Niente, WasteLAnd, Del Sol String Quartet, Cepromusic ensemble, Palimpsest, New York New Music Ensemble, Contemporary Music Ensemble Korea, NEC Honors Ensemble, KNUA Chamber Ensemble, Min Kwon, Christopher Adler, and Dan Lippel, among others. Recently, Ko premiered sumbisori through a Chou Wen-chung commission from Steven Schick, and her piece Undulate, written for Khaen, had its Asia premiere at the National Gugak Center in Korea. Her upcoming projects include composing a new orchestral work commissioned by the La Jolla Symphony, scheduled to premiere on February 1-2, 2025. She will subsequently write a solo flute piece in collaboration with her colleagues.

​

In 2019, Ko was a finalist in the League of American Orchestras’ Women Composers Readings and Commissions Program supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Her orchestral work, Remembrances, was selected by the American Composers Orchestra’s EarShot New Music Readings for a performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony in 2018, and Ko was the ArtPrize 10 Public Vote winner for the same piece. She was also selected for the 2018 Civic Orchestra of Chicago New Music Workshop with coaching by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) at Chicago’s Symphony Center. Other honors include winning Honors Ensemble at The New England Conservatory and an award for a String Quartet competition featuring Del Sol String Quartet. Ko has been a fellow at the June In Buffalo Music Festival, Pacific Rim Music Festival, and NONG Music Festival.

​

Ko is currently a Ph.D. student in music composition at UC San Diego. She holds a MM in music composition from the New England Conservatory and a MA and BA in music composition from Korea National University of Arts.