Biography

Shinik Hahm has established himself as one of the most dynamic and exciting conductors of all time. His vigorous guest conducting appearances include engagements in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. He has led orchestras in the world’s most prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Joseph Meyerhof Symphony Hall in Baltimore, Boston Symphony Hall, Rudolfium and Smetana Hall in Prague, Uruguay National Theatre, Mexico National Concert Hall, Tokyo Opera City Hall, Porto Alegre Theater in Brazil, Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Besancon and Avignon Theatre in France, Franz Liszt Hall in Budapest, the National Theater of China, Mongolian National Theatre and more.

Hahm is the founder and artistic director of the recently formed S.O.N.G (Symphony Orchestra for the Next Generation). S.O.N.G is based in Seoul, South Korea and envisions a new wave movement of classical music which offers performances to all audience. Since its launching concert in August 2014, the orchestra receives rave response from audience and ardent support from sponsors.

As music director and chief conductor of the Korean National Broadcasting System (KBS) Symphony Orchestra (2010-2012), Maestro Hahm led the orchestra on tour with concerts at the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall, the last of which was hailed by the New York Times as “warm, sympathetic” and “altogether respectable”. He previously served as music director of the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra (2001-2006), during which time the orchestra earned national attention and international acclaim through concert tours in the USA and Asia.

With exemplary leadership, he has served as music director of the following professional orchestras in North America: Green Bay Symphony (5 years); Abilene Philharmonic (10 years); Tuscaloosa Symphony (10 years). Under his leadership, the organizations have fostered strong musical and community connections.

Maestro Hahm is also passionately committed to the pedagogy of conducting. He has been a professor of orchestra conducting at the Yale University School of Music from 1995 to 2018. His students from Yale’s conducting program have won top prizes at the Solti, Besancon, Pedrotti, Toscanini, and China National and are active at the helm of Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Calgary Symphony, Winnipeg Opera, Toronto Ballet, Minnesota Opera, London Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Sichuan Symphony, Lanzhou and more.

Hahm studied conducting at Rice University where he received the Shepherd Society Award, and the Eastman School of Music where he earned the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize.

In 1991, Hahm won the prestigious Gregor Fitelberg Competition for Conductors and in 1995, Maestro Hahm was decorated by the Korean government with the Arts & Culture Medal for his significant contributions to classical music. He is also an energetic and avid soccer player.