Younje Cho (b. 1990) is a composer of instrumental and electroacoustic music, driven by a profound exploration of the transformative power of sound and its effects on psychological and instinctual experiences. With a deep love for nature and animals, Cho's compositions reflect his compassionate stance on environmental issues, climate change, and the impact of human actions on nature and animals. His work encourages listeners to embrace a perspective that considers humans as part of nature, advocating for a harmonious coexistence. By delving into the core emotions and sentiments evoked by sound and music, Cho aspires to create a pan-natural sound that reveals the essence and instincts found in nature, including human nature.
Selected for the 2023 American Composers Orchestra EarShot NYC Readings and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra (KNSO) Composers' Atelier, Cho's accolades include winning 2nd prize in The American Prize chamber music division, and Honorable Mention with a following commission in the 3rd Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival "Artinno Award" International Orchestral Composition Competition. As the winner of the 2022 Georgina Joshi Composition Commission Award, Cho was commissioned by the Indiana University New Music Ensemble in conjunction with the Dean's Prize of Jacobs School of Music. His honors further encompass winning the Seoul New Music Festival's Call for Scores, the Music Association of Korea Competition, and securing third place in the Hwacheon Bimok Concours, and being named one of the three finalists in the 2022 Seoul International Music Festival Call for Scores. Cho has served as the music director of the 29 Second Film Festival by the Korea Economic Daily, composer-in-residence in the Aca Celli Cello Ensemble, instructor at Mu-Company and Dong-Sung High School, and reporter at the Society of Music Composition and Research. His works have been performed by renowned orchestras and ensembles such as Korean National Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Collettivo_21, Dissolution Ensemble, Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Coram Deo, Spektral Quartet, Keon Woo Piano Ensemble, Hye Eum Piano Ensemble, Piano Echo, Y-Us Piano Ensemble, Ewha Brillante, and Communion Ensemble. Furthermore, his music has been performed in various music festivals, including the 2024 Spring of Rites Festival, the 2023 SONiC Festival, the 4th Hangzhou Contemporary Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Seoul New Music Festival, etc.
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Younje Cho is currently pursuing a postgraduate university course in composition at Kunstuniversität Graz (University of Music and Performing Arts Graz) in Austria under the guidance of Klaus Lang. He will be starting a D.M.A. program at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music this fall as an Associate Instructor of Composition, lecturing free-counterpoint courses and giving composition lessons. Cho holds a master's degree in composition and computer music composition from IU, where he also served as a Music Theory Associate Instructor. He completed his bachelor's degree at Yonsei University in Seoul in 2018. Throughout his education, Cho received guidance and mentorship from esteemed composition teachers such as David Dzubay, John Gibson, Chi Wang, Andreia Pinto Correia, P.Q. Phan, Aaron Travers, Jiesun Lim, Hong-Seok Lee, and Yie-Eun Chun.
