Eun-Mee Ko

Pre-College
  • Chair, Voice
Eun-Mee Ko headshot

Contact

Departments

Pre-College

Instruments Taught

Voice

Education

Post Graduate Diploma, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

MM, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

BM, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Building a good foundation is essential for young singers, and I help my students build and achieve a level of skill that allows them to enjoy their performing genuinely. It is my pleasure to walk my students through their musical journey with them!”

— Eun-Mee Ko

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Seoul, Korea

What are you passionate about outside of music?

I love traveling and discovering new places through food. Whether it’s street food or a hidden gem of a restaurant, every bite tells a story about the local culture. I’m always on the lookout for my next culinary adventure!

Who were your major teachers?

One of my most influential teachers was Herman Le Roux, the chair of SFCM, during my time as a student. He wasn’t just my voice teacher—he was also a good friend and a father figure to me. His passing has left a deep void, and I miss him profoundly. I was also fortunate to have Willene Gunn and Kathy Cathcart as mentors in the opera workshop. They were role models who played a significant part in shaping the teacher I’ve become.

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

The defining moment for me came when I sang the solo in Handel’s Messiah at Davies Symphony Hall as a junior at SFCM. Standing on that stage, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose and joy, realizing that I could do this for the rest of my life. It was in that moment I knew my dream had come true—music would be my career.

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

"Always be genuine—both as a musician and as a person."

What was a turning point in your career?

A major turning point came when I took a two-year break from teaching at SFCM’s Pre-College, following my husband’s work in Korea. My daughter was a baby, and I enjoyed the time off, but I realized just how much I missed teaching during that period. When I returned, I came back with a renewed sense of purpose and became even more dedicated to my students and my work.

Biography

Eun-Mee Ko, a dedicated voice professor, serves on the faculty of the International Lyric Academy in Italy and is the Chair of the Pre-College Voice Department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). With a focus on classical voice and classical musical theater, Ms. Ko has shaped the next generation of performers through her teaching.

Ms. Ko’s students have won numerous awards in local, national, and international competitions, including the Junior Bach Audition, the Pacific Music Society & Foundation Annual Competition, the United States International Music Competition, the Schmidt Vocal Competition, and CS Music Vocal Competition. They have been featured on NPR’s From the Top and participated in prestigious summer festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the International Lyric Academy, where she is a faculty member.

As an adjudicator, Ms. Ko has served on panels for competitions such as the United States International Competition, the New York Lyric Opera National Voice Competition, and the GOCAA Competition.

Ms. Ko has performed in operatic productions in San Francisco, Sacramento, Rome, and Icomb Place, collaborating with conductors and directors such as Jeffrey Thomas, Stefano Vignati, Monroe Kanouse, and Hermann LeRoux. Her solo performances have been featured at Davies Symphony Hall, Herbst Theater, and the San Jose Performing Arts Center under the direction of Michael Barrett and Dong Jin Kim.

Ms. Ko holds a Post-Graduate Diploma, M.M., and B.M. from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Herman LeRoux and Sylvia Anderson. She has played a vital role in shaping the curriculum at SFCM, organizing and directing the Musical Theater Workshop (2004-2005), the Scenes Class (2015-2017), and the Vocal Performance Workshop (2017-present) for the Pre-College Department.

Currently, Ms. Ko teaches at SFCM on Saturdays, at the International Lyric Academy during the summer in Italy, and runs her private studio in Palo Alto, offering in-person and Zoom lessons to SFCM students and her private students throughout the week.

Ms. Ko lives in Palo Alto with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Accepting students on the professional track only for the Continuing Education Department.
 

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