Jimin Seo brings three master’s degrees, a pending doctorate and a drive for making music to her new position as visiting assistant professor of music and orchestra conductor at Goshen College.
Seo will debut as the GC Symphony Orchestra conductor at the Homecoming Music Gala on Oct. 5 in Sauder Concert Hall. The orchestra will present “Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” by Richard Wagner.“I’m excited for the audience to witness our Goshen College Symphony Orchestra — the beautiful playing as a group as well as all the individuals being fantastic musicians,” Seo said.
Seo has a bachelor’s degree in conducting and master’s degrees in choral conducting, collaborative piano and orchestral conducting. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in musical arts from the University of North Texas.
“Studying in different areas,” Seo said, “allowed me to broaden my musical perspective, especially when I analyze musical work.”
“Shaping musical lines with orchestra members is a magical process in rehearsals and such a joy for me as a director,” Seo said. “Having that background in my career — conducting, vocal pedagogy and opera helped me to better serve the instrumentalists and vice versa.”
Matthew Hill, professor of music and chair of the music department, led the search committee that brought Seo to Goshen.
“I was really blown away by [her] conducting because I could sense that music was in her being — it was in her soul,” Hill said, “there was a great desire to communicate through music with an orchestra as her instrument.”
Hill said that Seo brings a balance in being both strict and caring, which makes her an effective professor, mentor and teacher.
“She can say a lot with how she just looks at the orchestra, how
she breathes, how she moves,” Hill said. “There’s a lot that she’s able to communicate without having to even say anything and that’s a lot of training and also a great gift.”
During the search process last spring, Seo was brought in to teach a conducting class and rehearse with the GCSO.
Lucca Kauffman, a sophomore interdisciplinary major and violin player, said of her first impression: “She seemed very wise and very strong-willed like she had a … wealth of knowledge from different aspects of her music studies — and I was excited to see a woman in a position of potential power.”
Kauffman said, “I like how she is playful but gets the job done and is straight to the point. I think she will make us a stronger orchestra because of that.”
Isaac Bontrager, a senior music and biology double major, trombone player and orchestra assistant, said, “It’ll be a more rigorous orchestra experience than other times, which I think is good.
“I think she’ll push us quite a bit and we’ll get to play some challenging repertoire.”
Along with her role as orchestra director, Seo is accompanying Vox Profundi, GC’s low-voice choir, and teaching introduction to conducting and aural skills.
“You always want to hire somebody that is a good fit and all that other stuff — but somebody who will raise standards in the department as a whole,” Hill said. “I’m most looking forward to just seeing her do what I know she can do — and that’s really exciting.”
Seo is filling the position previously held by Richard Brunson before his termination last February. As she adjusts to her new role, Seo reflects on what drew her to GC.
“One of many reasons I chose to come to Goshen is that Goshen College has a very beautiful faculty dynamic,” Seo said. “It’s really lovely. Musical faculties and staff here just made sure I feel welcome and supported and also, they helped … the transition [go] smoothly in every possible way. I’m really grateful for it.”
From a student perspective, Elise Jantz, a senior physics and art double major and violin player, said, “I’ve had professors who are new to Goshen before and it feels kind of the same where I can tell that she is an expert and really knows her stuff, but also she’s still adjusting to the position.”
Seo’s long-term goals include recruiting more instrumentalists to GC. “I’m committed to designing a beautiful symphonic program which offers an opportunity for students to learn standard orchestra repertoire and [build] memorable performances they can cherish beyond college years,” she said.
“I want to help them not only grow in technique and skills but also grow as … well-rounded musicians and artists. That’s my main goal.”
To emphasize these long-term goals, Hill said, “All my conversations with her have been — you know, next year or the year after and … we want to make it so that this is her place.”
On hopes for the coming year, Kauffman said, “I hope I can return to that part in me that really enjoys orchestra because last year I definitely did not get that, and when she came to visit … I got so excited. I was so happy because I could see that spark starting to come alive again.”
Bontrager said, “I’m just looking forward to … hopefully experiencing some stability in orchestra and also just seeing how it goes.”
Hill said, “You meet musicians that are really good, but that humility thing — sometimes they know they’re good or they like people to know that they’re good — but she is both really, really good and really, really humble … The greatest musicians are the most humble people because how can you not but be humble in the face of music?”
