Yehun Kim will be conducting the ASO October 2009 concert. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, where he began the study of violin at the age of 6. He received his Bachelor of Music from Kyungwon University, where he studied conducting with Kyung-Soo Won, the Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Stockton (California) Symphony. Continuing his studies in France, Yehun received a chamber music prize from the Versailles National Conservatory and a unanimous 1st prize in conducting from the Dijon National Conservatory, where he studied with Jean-Sébastien Bereau, the former professor of CNSM de Paris.
Yehun was one of five young conductors selected for the Incheon & Arts Music Festival (Korea) by Myung-Whun Chung, the Festival’s founder. He has also studied at the Paris Conservatory with Patrik Marco, music director of the Maitrise de Paris and choral conductor of the Orchestre de Colonne. While in Paris, Kim founded and served as Music Director of the Paris Asian Chamber Orchestra, which is formed by young talented musicians in Europe. He is currently an assistant conductor of Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra and a graduate conducting student of Edward Benyas at SIUC, where he lives with his wife, Sunyoung Lee, a pianist, and their son, Daniel.
Wm Shane Williams will be conducting the ASO Children's concert and the Christmas 2009 Concert. He was named Music Director and Conductor of the SCCYO in August of 1999. His previous conducting posts include Associate Conductor of the Alton Symphony, Resident Conductor of the Award-winning St. Louis Brass Band, and Music Director/Conductor of the Alton Summer Chamber Series.
Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Austin Peay State University, a Master of Music degree in Music Performance from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Missouri-Columbia.His current conducting posts include Pops Conductor of the Alton Symphony, Conductor of the Dayspring Festival Orchestra, Conductor of the Young People’s Concert Orchestra at the Symphony Music School, and the Music Director/Conductor of the Sangamon Valley Youth Orchestra.
He is on the faculty of the Masterworks Festival in New York and serves as adjunct faculty to Webster University and Lindenwood University. His professional performing career includes the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (noted performance at Carnegie Hall), the Illinois Symphony, the Joffrey Ballet, Opryland USA, the Moody Blues, the Three Irish Tenors, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and Roger Williams. Mr. Williams has been guest conductor with the Kirkwood Symphony and the Illinois Symphony. He resides in Wentzville, Missouri with his wife and sons.
Leon Burke III will be conducting the ASO February 2010 concert. He is a native St. Louisan. He attended Mc Bride High School and John Burroughs School and holds music degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Kansas. Dr. Burke has also been a Fulbright Fellow. Dr. Burke has served as Conductor/Music Director of the Lawrence Chamber Players, the Hutchinson Symphony, and the McPherson Symphony. He has also been on the faculties of Baker University, Sterling College, Hutchinson Community College, and Webster University.
He is currently active in the local music scene as the Conductor of the University City Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. He is also the Choir Director at Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood. Outside of St. Louis he is the Conductor for the Metropolitan Ballet of Topeka and conducts the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He teaches voice at East Central College in Union, MO and St. Louis University.
Dr. Burke has won the Arts for Life Award for Best Achievement in Musical Direction for his work with Spotlight Theater’s production of Titanic in 2003. Since then, the musicals he has directed for Spotlight Theater (Chicago, Jekyll and Hyde, West Side Story) were honored by Arts for Life by their nomination for Best Musical Production and won him two more nominations for Best Musical Director. He was also Music Director for KTK’s production of Little Women and wrote the music for First Run Theater’s Spectrum: an evening of eight ten-minute plays.
David Peek will be conducting the ASO April 2010 concert. He was born in Alton and is well aquainted with the area. He did his doctoral studies at Ball State University, and has conducted the Town and Country Orchestra since 1983. During his tenure, he has led the orchestra in two successful concert tours of Europe. He is also the Co-Artistic Director of the Symphony Society of St. Charles County.
Mr. Peek has been the guest conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra; Northern Music Festival, Ontario; Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, and numerous other orchestras.
Other positions included Musical Director at the National Music Camp, Interlochen (MI); Footlight Musical Theater (KN); and the Marion Civic Theater (IN). Mr. Peek was the founding music director of the St. Charles County Youth Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Villa-Lobos International Conducting Competition, Rio de Janeiro; Fulbright Fellowship Conducting Finalist, New York; and Doctoral Conducting Finalist at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY.,
Mr. Peek has been the guest conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra; Northern Music Festival, Ontario; Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, and numerous other orchestras.
Other positions included Musical Director at the National Music Camp, Interlochen (MI); Footlight Musical Theater (KN); and the Marion Civic Theater (IN). Mr. Peek was the founding music director of the St. Charles County Youth Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Villa-Lobos International Conducting Competition, Rio de Janeiro; Fulbright Fellowship Conducting Finalist, New York; and Doctoral Conducting Finalist at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY.,
YEHUN KIM
WM. SHANE WILLIAMS
LEON BURKE III
DAVID PEEK
Leon Burke III will be conducting the ASO February 2010 concert as the third in a series of four guest conductors