Jung-Ho Pak Biography Jung-Ho Pak began studying the piano at the age of six. Three years later, he was awarded a scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory and enrolled in a college music theory class. He began studying clarinet at the age of 11 and played in bands and orchestras into college. He also played and studied the alto saxophone and viola. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in music at the University of California , Santa Cruz , and pursued his Masters of Music in orchestral conducting at the University of Southern California with Daniel Lewis and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Michael Senturia. Supplemental studies include the Blomstedt Institute and Tanglewood. Early in his career, Pak was a conductor and professor at several schools, including the University of California ( Berkeley and Santa Barbara ), Idyllwild Academy of the Arts and Lehigh University . In 1997, Pak was appointed music director of the San Diego Symphony to lead it out of bankruptcy. It eventually became an artistic and financial success, receiving one of the largest endowment pledges in American orchestral history (over $110 million). In 1988 he won a national conducting competition with the Young Musicians Foundation's Debut Orchestra. In 1998 Pak, succeeded Daniel Lewis as music director of the USC Symphony ( University of Southern California ) and was also named music director of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra. In 1999, he additionally became music director of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, with which he was named music director emeritus in 2007. The San Diego Chamber Orchestra appointed Mr. Pak as artistic director and conductor in 2006, and in 2007 Mr. Pak began his tenure as artistic director and conductor of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, one of the largest orchestras in Massachusetts (second to the Boston Symphony Orchestra). Since 2003, Pak has been director of orchestras and music director of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, one of the largest and oldest music festivals in the country. He has also served as principal conductor of the Emmy-nominated Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and as music director of the International Chamber Orchestra, NEXT Chamber Orchestra, Colburn Chamber Orchestra and Diablo Ballet. Guest conducting has taken him to Europe, the Soviet Union, South America and Asia . Mr. Pak is also a frequent speaker on television and radio, as well as a clinician and guest conductor at numerous music festivals. External Links: Orchestra Nova San Diego homepage Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra homepage World Youth Symphony Orchestra homepage and audio sample