Clarinetist and educator Jiyeon Choi joined the Arts & Sciences faculty as a lecturer in Clarinet and as principal clarinet with the Charlottesville Symphony in the Fall of 2019, and also holds the principal clarinet position with the Sinfonia da Camera, Illinois. She is an advocate for contemporary music as well as specializing in standard solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire. Her primary research explores the chamber music of Jörg Widmann, a renowned German clarinetist and composer. She has collaborated with several ensemble groups such as Ensemble VIM (GA), PRIZM Ensemble (TN), and Seoul Clarinet Ensemble.
Dr. Choi has previously served on the faculty for Purdue University and the Illinois Summer Youth Music program. She has performed with the several orchestras including Richmond Symphony, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Williamsburg Orchestra, and Charlottesville Opera. She received solo and chamber awards from various competitions, including Misbin Chamber Competition, and a runner up from the Krannert Debut Artist Competition. She has performed in prestigious venues such as National Arts Centre, Ottawa, and Carnegie Hall, among others. She was a member of National Orchestral Institute with a scholarship, TIMF Academy Orchestra and Orchestre de la Fracophonie in Montreal, QC. In addition, she has been a resident artist at the Atlantic Music Festival. She can be heard on the recording American Series: Randall Thomson “Symphony No. 2” under James Ross, released by Naxos. She spends her summers on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan.
Dr. Choi received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music performance from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, a Master of Music degree from Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Ewha Womans University. Her principal teachers include J. David Harris, Kenneth Grant, and Jeongmin Song.