Ara Koh

Ara Koh

Instructor/Piano Faculty/Collaborative Pianist Department of Music

Dr. Ara Koh has been a faculty member at UIW since 2013, teaching piano lessons, class piano, coordinating piano seminar and accompanying the Cardinal Chorale. She has appeared in prestigious concert halls across the world as a soloist and collaborative pianist. She has performed in venues including Taipei National Art Center in Taiwan, Se-Jong Art Center and Gyonggi Art Center in Korea, Conservatoire Frédéric Chopin in France and Tobin Center in San Antonio. she also frequently appears in various contemporary ensemble concerts including new music and composer's concerts including CASA (Composers Alliance of San Antonio). As an active collaborative pianist, she was invited to perform at state and national conferences, including those for the Music Teachers National Association, the College Music Society and National Association of Composers. While she was in schools, she won the Fine Art Scholarship, CSULB University Concerto Competition, Aspen Festival Scholarship and PSU Graduate Research Exhibition Competition. She has received the awards from The Music Teacher's Association of California for Solo Competition and Piano Ensemble Festival. She is in demand as an adjudicator working with local, state, and national competitions. Dr. Ara Koh's past students have been top prizewinners at competitions such as Fryderyk Chopin Society of Texas International Competition, KPAC performance competition, Tuesday Musical Club Young Artist Competition and several other regional and local contests.

  • California State of University of Long Bach (BM)
  • New England Conservatory of Music (MM)
  • Pennsylvania State University (DMA)

Taught Class piano , Keyboard Skills, Applied Piano Lesson and Chamber Coaching at Penn State University. Teaching Class Piano, Keyboard Skills, Music Theory (Intro Aural Skills) and Applied Piano Lesson at UIW.

  • Staff Accompanist at Cerritos College
  • Staff Accompanist at Pennsylvania State Korean Catholic Church
  • Teaching Assistant at Penn State
  • Piano Faculty/ Collaborative Pianist at UIW
  • Staff Accompanist at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
  • Collaborative Pianist at Opera San Antonio
  • Collaborative Pianist at San Antonio Chamber Choir
  • Active Adjudicators for TMTA State Performance Contests
  • Solo Recital at Gyonggi Art Center in Korea
  • Piano Duo Recital at Taiwan National Art Center in Taiwan
  • Piano Duo Recital at Sejong Art Center Recital in Korea
  • Piano Duo Recital at Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien in Austria
  • Chamber Recital at Conservatoire Frédéric Chopin in France
  • Piano Recital at An Die Music in Baltimore
  • Piano Duo Recital at Steinway Gallery in San Antonio
  • Chamber Recitals and Faculty Research Performances at UIW in San Antonio
  • Chamber Recitals and CASA Concerts at Trinity University in San Antonio
  • Chamber Recital and Lecture Recital at St. Mary University
  • Opera Gala Performance, San Antonio Chamber Choir Concert at Tobin Center in San Antonio
  • Song Consortia Conference at UIW
  • Texas Music Educators Association
  • Music Teachers National Association
  • College Music Society

Hobbies: Cooking Korean foods

Interests: Traveling/ New Music (Contemporary Music)/ Painting

  • Winner of CSULB Concerto Competition
  • CSULB Fine Art Scholarship
  • Scott Handerson Scholarship
  • Penn State Graduate Research Performance Award
  • MTAC Solo Competition Winner
  • MTAC Piano Duo Competition Winner
  • Invited to perform at World Piano Pedagogy Festival
  • Invited to perform at the National Conference of the Society of Composers
  • Invited to perform at College Music Society Voice/Piano (2021 South Central Regional Conference)
  • Invited to perform at College Music Society Cello/ Piano (2021 South Central Regional Conference)
  • Invited to perform at Music By Women Festival

Ara Koh's students won numerous national and international competitions including Tuesday Musical Club piano competition, Annual International Chopin Piano Competition and KPAC Performance Competitions.

  • Accompanying Senior Graduate Recitals at UIW
  • Adjudicator for local music competitions
  • Accompanying Faculty Recitals and Recordings at UIW
  • Accompanying Incoming Students Auditions at UIW
  • Accompanying Scholarship Auditions at UIW
  • Participated at several fundraising concerts including Prométhée Humanitaire Association
  • Several Performances at The Village at Incarnate Word Senior Living Community
  • Coaching and Participating at CASA ( Composers Alliance of San Antonio)
  • Class Piano
  • Keyboard Skills 1 and 2
  • Applied Piano Lessons
  • Intro Aural Skills
  • Piano Proficiency Review