Clinician + Composer
Dr. Janet 은하 Kim, Clinician
Dr. Janet 은하 Kim is the Director of Wind Bands and Coordinator of Large Instrumental Ensembles at the University of Connecticut, where they conduct the UConn Symphonic Wind Ensemble and teach courses in conducting, woodwind techniques, pedagogy, and wind literature. They also oversee graduate studies in wind conducting.
They hold a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Jazz Studies from Montclair State University. Their mentors include Drs. Travis J. Cross, Timothy A. Paul, Jason Worzbyt, and Shelley Axelson. While in Los Angeles, they served as the Associate Director of the Peninsula Symphonic Winds in San Pedro, CA, and successfully led a fully virtual ensemble through the pandemic. In recognition of their expertise, UCLA hired Dr. Kim to teach Audio Technology 101.
A sought-after guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Kim has led honor bands and festivals across the U.S., Canada, and virtually clinic'd ensembles in Hong Kong and South Korea. They are a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Their work has been featured at The Midwest Clinic, in state conferences, podcasts, and publications. Dr. Kim is part of the Carnegie Hall Music Educator Workshop, leading sessions on intentional programming and representation in repertoire.
Claire Brown, Composer
Claire Brown (b. 2006) is a composer and oboist from Northern Virginia and currently based in State College, Pennsylvania. Her original compositions include works for soloists, chamber ensemble, large ensemble, and electronic media. Her most recent compositions span a wide variety of genres and instrumentation, including A Thousand Paper Cranes (Wind Ensemble), Proceed With Caution (Woodwind Trio), and Destination (Horn Duet). Her compositional style is influenced by various genres and styles, from merengue and fugues to more modern contemporary works, pushing boundaries in the world of new music. Her pieces have been selected for various competitions, including a solo cello etude for Vox Novus 15 Minutes of Fame Featuring Eunice Koh, and a wind ensemble piece, A Thousand Paper Cranes, for the Wind Ensemble category of the 2024 Penn State Ensemble Call for Scores. A Thousand Paper Cranes will be premiered in Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State University by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin in Fall 2025. Claire is now working on a band commission for the Southeastern Women in Music Symposium that will also be premiered December 2025. Currently, Claire is attending Penn State, where she studies oboe with Dr. Andreas Oeste and composition with Dr. Baljinder Sekhon.
Participating in ensembles led by women has proven to me that I too can lead a group of talented musicians or any group.... After performing with the few women conductors I’ve got to meet, I am now inspired to be like them and soon will be going into Music Education!
Tiffany D. - West Creek HS, Clarksville, TN