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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Hyejin Cho

Professor Hyejin cho sitting next to a piano

Interview with Hyejin Cho

Many who listen to classical music are familiar with Felix Mendelssohn but likely are unfamiliar with his musically inclined sister, Fanny Mendelssohn. A gifted composer and pianist, she and her brother teamed up to be among the best sibling duos in the Romantic period.

We had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Hyejin Cho, a world-renowned performer and professor at Wheaton College, who aims to promote women composers. She shared how she came across Fanny’s work and sought to bring it into the spotlight, even uncovering a forgotten composition. With a D.M.A. in piano performance from the University of Michigan and an M.M. from Indiana University, Dr. Cho is no stranger to academic research, but her talents don’t end there; she is also responsible for establishing the American Prize-winning Koinonia Piano Trio.

Aligning her performances with her studies has provided many opportunities to live out her passion for performing and promoting the compositions of women composers. On Monday, February 3, 2025, she will present a recital featuring the works of the celebrated Mendelssohn siblings, Fanny and Felix. To learn more or purchase tickets, go to tickets.wheaton.edu.

Read more about her musical journey and the inspiration for her work in the interview below.

Early Exposure to Music
I was born in Seoul, Korea. Though no one in my family was a musician, my parents shared a deep love for music. My mother, in particular, frequently listened to classical FM radio, creating a home filled with music. I started playing piano at age four, mostly for fun, and whileI had weekly lessons, my practice routine lacked consistency. I enjoyed certain pieces and was a fast reader, but my irregular practice eventually led my mother to suggest taking a break from piano lessons when I was in 4th grade.

Arts Education in Korea
After a year, a friend of my mother recommended auditioning for an Arts Middle School. To our surprise, I was accepted despite having far less formal preparation than most of my peers, who had undergone three to five years of rigorous training in preparation for the audition.

Finder Her Calling
The Arts Middle School I attended specializes in training young musicians, dancers, and artists and is affiliated with Ewha School Foundation, which was founded on Christian principles by missionary Mary F. Scranton. Attending this school meant committing to art as a professional pursuit, and most students continued their intense training at Seoul Arts High School.

College Musical Training
When I entered Ewha Women’s University as a piano major, I took the chance to explore other paths, but I ultimately returned to music, thanks to the professors I met during my time at university, who helped me see music from a new perspective.