JJ Koh

Hailed by The Columbus Dispatch as having “gorgeous sound and dynamic nuance,” JJ Koh joined the Madison Symphony Orchestra as Principal Clarinet, The Barbara and Norman Berven Chair in 2016. For the 2018-2019 season, he served as Assistant Principal/Eb Clarinet with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and holds a position with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Koh has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, and more. As a founding member of the Arundo Donax Reed Quintet, winners of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, JJ has commissioned and recorded multiple works, taught master classes, and performed in various concert settings across the country. Koh, the principal clarinetist of KammerMahler, has participated in the world-premiere recording project featuring chamber versions of Gustav Mahler’s Fourth and Ninth Symphonies. Additionally, he has premiered works by notable composers such as Augusta Reed Thomas, Bernard Rands, Harry Stafylakis, and David Canfield and recorded with Nimbus Records, Tanner-Monagle, Enharmonic Records, and New Dynamic Records. Summer festival appearances have included the National Repertory Orchestra, Lake George Music Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival, Midsummer’s Music, Washington Island Music Festival, Apollo Music Festival, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival where he held a Fellowship for five summers. Koh completed his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees under the instruction of Eli Eban and James Campbell at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he also served as an Associate Instructor. His final recital was awarded the Performer’s Certificate, one of the highest honors awarded by the institution. Koh is a D’Addario Woodwinds performing artist and product consultant.