Conductor and NEC alumna Holly Hyun Choe ’17 has been awarded the esteemed Dudamel Fellowship. This prestigious program, created in 2009 by Los Angeles Philharmonic Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, is designed to nurture and support the next generation of talented conductors from around the globe. Choe is one of four conductors selected to take part in the fellowship for the 2024-2025 season.
The Dudamel Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity for promising conductors to refine their craft and expand their musical experiences through personal mentorship and active participation in the LA Phil’s orchestral, education, and community initiatives. As a Dudamel Fellow, Choe will have the opportunity to work closely with Gustavo Dudamel, the musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as a host of visiting artists and conductors. Her fellowship will involve a series of tailored engagements designed to enhance her conducting skills through observation and hands-on practice.
Throughout the fellowship, Choe will conduct Los Angeles Philharmonic youth concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, participate as a cover conductor, and serve as a mentor in educational programs, such as Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA).
Born in South Korea and raised in LA, Choe is principal conductor of the chamber orchestra Ensemble Reflektor, Artist Associate for L’Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, and is the former assistant conductor to Paavo Järvi with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. She is also the recipient of a Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award and the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship scholarship.
Announcing the fellowship on her social media, Choe said: “Thank you, Maestro Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, for selecting me and giving me this opportunity. What an honor and joy it is to be selected, especially in my hometown, LA!”
Choe earned her Master of Music in Wind Ensemble Conducting at NEC under the tutelage of Charles Peltz.