On Saturday, November 21, the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra was conducted by the three DMA candidates of the Faculty of Music’s conducting area: Chad Heltzel, François Koh and Samuel Tam.
François Koh has a fascinating story. When he lived in Korea as a child, Koh would ask his parents to study music but he was given Tae Kwan Do and Judo lessons instead. At the age of 13, Koh picked up his mother’s guitar and began to pluck at the strings.
“This was a very interesting experience for me,” he says. “It certainly impacted my future life choices.”
Koh began his university studies pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering, as his parents still frowned upon a career in music. Unhappy with his choice of study, Koh auditioned for music schools in Korea as a classical guitarist.
Unsatisfied with the narrow repertoire of classical guitar, and after experiencing a transformational rehearsal with the Kyung-won University’s symphony orchestra, Koh immediately began studying conducting privately. Unfortunately, his guitar experience limited his acceptance into conducting programs in Korea as well as Germany because candidates are normally expected to be violinists or pianists.
Nonetheless, Koh became music director for the Suncoast Concert Band in Vancouver in 2008. In 2011, he moved to Montreal to further his conducting studies at McGill and received his master’s degree in 2013.
Koh’s journey has led him to realize that a traditional pathway to making music does not guarantee success. For Koh, the broadening of one’s musical world and sharing that world with others displays success, as well as is nourishment for one’s personal spiritual well being.
Koh’s conducting approach is not to direct with an iron baton but to be a “helpful, pious musician.” This is his route to establish harmony within an ensemble.
While completing his doctorate, Koh is the current music director of the Georgian Bay Symphony Orchestra in Owen Sound, Ontario.
On Saturday, Koh will direct Johann Strauss II’s The Blue Danube and Ravel’s La Valse.
Jacob Feldman
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