Useon Choi
Clarinetist Useon Choi currently holds the principal clarinet position at the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra in Colorado, USA and teaches as visiting professor in clarinet at Silla University and Inje University in South Korea.
Native of South Korea, Dr. Choi has an abundant experience in the orchestral field from early on his career from performing in the Busan High School of Arts orchestra to holding the principal clarinet position at Great Falls Symphony Association in Montana. Prior to his current position Dr. Choi performed with the Busan Youth Orchestra, Masan Philharmonic Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Millikin-Decatur Orchestra, Busan Philharmonic, Sinfonia da Camera Symphony Orchestra and among others. He has given solo performances with many orchestras but one of his great achievements was to perform the Krommer Double Clarinet Concert with the Fort Collins Symphony along with John Bruce Yeh, associate principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
In the Band realm Dr. Choi performed with the top university bands in the United States. He was very fortunate to perform at the Carnegie Hall as a member of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Wind Symphony with the direction of James F. Keene. During his studies at Indiana University, Dr. Choi performed in the Wind Ensemble under the guidance of Professor Ray Cramer and had a once in a life time performance under the baton of Frederick Fennell.
Internationally, Dr. Choi has given performances in Antwerp (Belgium), Osaka (Japan), Seoul and Busan (South Korea), collaborating with international clarinetists. He is thankful to have inherited his musical fundamentals from clarinet mentors such as J. David Harris, James Campbell, Howard Klug, Jungman Hyun and Wooyoung Jung. Dr. Choi has also taken master classes from Michel Arrignon, Alfred Prinz, Jonghuk Park and Hyungon Kim. He is also a member of the International Clarinet Association.
A devoted enthusiast of the clarinet choir, Dr. Choi is the member of the Busan Clarinet Choir and Jubiler Clarinet Ensemble. He has also directed the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I) clarinet choir and was also invited as guest conductor/artist for the Troy Clarinet Day, Vandoren Clarinet Festival and the International Clarinet Fest. held in Spain.
As a clarinet pedagogue, Dr. Choi served as the clarinet teaching assistant at the U of I. Dr. Choi has given clarinet master classes at the University of Montana, Troy University, Ghent Conservatory (Belgium) and at various other clarinet festivals in South Korea.
Chamber music has always been Dr.Choi’s passion and his experience in this genre blossomed when he held the position as resident clarinetist for the Chinook Winds Woodwind Quintet in Montana.
Dr. Choi is always grateful to have this musical gift and to travel the world performing the clarinet for a great audience. But in his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis (NTRP 4.0), golf, jogging and watching vintage movies with his lovely wife Woohee.
Education: Dong-A University (BM), Indiana University (MM), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DMA)
