Curriculum Vitae

CAROLINE KYUNGA AHN, DM

Accomplished Music Instructor & Musician

MUSIC THEORY & COMPOSITION  ~  CURRICULUM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT  ~  EAR TRAINING

 

PROFILE

  • Award-winning composer, pianist, organist, music director and educator offering 10 years' experience in teaching music theory, history and composition; highly regarded for having an absolute (perfect) pitch.

  • Adept at both individual and group instruction; taught music theory courses encompassing aural skills, keyboard, improvisation, and counterpoint writing.

  • Presented with several awards and honors for achievements in music composition.

  • Leverage advanced knowledge of music theory and techniques to write, compose, teach and perform beautiful works of music.

  • Able to capitalize on a variety of instructional strategies to accommodate diverse needs, learning styles, and cultural backgrounds.

  • Consistently foster a safe, secure and supportive learning environment to promote student growth and development.

  • Able to develop highly effective lesson plans tailored to students' ability levels.

  • Expertly cultivate and maintain unified relationships with teachers, parents, students and administrative personnel.

 

Selected Achievements

  • Korean Indepenence Day performance commissioned by National Musuem of Korean Contemporary History, August 14, 2021

  • Porch Concert Series performance, commissioned by Classical Music Indy and Forward motion, August 12, 2021

  • Featured in Classical Music Indy article as one of the micro composition composers, August 3, 2021

  • Commissioned by Music in Bloom Festival and performed by pianist Clare Logendyke, September 30, 2020

  • Art of the Virus Online Collaborated Project, performed by Dr. Sooah Park, July 27, 2020

  • Carnegie Hall performance by Mirus Trio performance of Take Me Home Wind, February 11, 2020

  • Course Hero Publication, Help Students Find Their Creative Voice with a Modeling Approach, January 9, 2019

  • Sound of Hope charity concert benefitting Sheltering Wings Women and Children Shelter, December 6, 2019

  • SEMI-FINALISTS of The American Prize in Composition—Orchestra (professional division), 2018-19, January 7, 2019

  • Masterclass, Butler University composition department, November 29, 2018

  • Masterclass, Jacob’s School of Music Indiana University composition department, November 14, 2018

  • Joint recital with Dr. P. Q. Phan, composition faculty and Jacob’s School of Music Indiana University, November 12, 2018

  • West Meets East concert at University of Indianapolis, Sunkyo- Obligato for Kayageum and Harp, October 28, 2018

  • Premier of trio for Flute, Viola and Piano, 'Dark Shadow: Tracing the Past', Anderson University, October 4, 2018

  • Featuring of orchestra piece “Summer Sketches” on Music of our Mothers, performed by Anderson Symphony Orchestra, 09/12/18 to 09/18/18

  • IAWM, International Alliance for Women in Music, 2018 Search for New Music Competition, Winner of 2018 Christine Clark/Theodore Front Prize. August 15, 2018

  • Rhode Island premier of 'Water: Image, Reflection and Memories (2017)' for Piano Solo, presented by Dr. Jooeun Pak, Providence College, February 24, 2018

  • Indiana premier of 'Water: Image, Reflection and Memories (2017)' for Piano Solo, presented by Dr. Jooeun Pak, Anderson University, February 22, 2018

  • World premier of 'Water: Image, Reflection and Memories (2017)' for Piano Solo, presented by Dr. Jooeun Pak, Metropolitan State University of Denver, February 12 2018

  • Mirus Concert, performance of new piece "Take Me Home Wind, Take me" for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Korea, January 28, 2018

  • World premier performance of Summer Sketches performed by Anderson Symphony Orchestra along with Pärt’s Silouan’s Song and Beethoven 5, Anderson, Indiana, January 28, 2018

  • The Heritage Concert, Second Series, Korea, August 30, 2017

  • Classic Ballad Concerts 1 and 2, opening at Barnes and Nobles to kick of launching of the new album, Indianapolis, July 28 and 29, 2017

  • Inframince Concert, Rene Margritte Series, Olympus Hall, Korea, June 23, 2017

  • Carnegie Hall debut of 'When Birds Sing...' for tenor and chamber orchestra, New York, NY, April 27, 2017

  • Masterclass, Butler University composition department, April 20, 2017

  • Inframince Concert Series 3, Claude Monet, Olympus Hall, Korea, April 7, 2017

  • Lafemme dans l’amour, premier of song cycle 'Women's Love' as a featured composer, presented by Dr. Soo-Ah Park, University of Texas in Tyler, February 23, 2017

  • Release and showcase of my first album 'Classical Ballad' sponsored by The Classic Art, Seoul, Korea, December 16, 2016

  • Composition recital collaborating with ISU, Vincennes, Ball State, IWU and AU professors, Anderson University, November 6, 2016

  • Featuring of commissioned work 'Everything Flows(2016)' for Cramped Spaces quartet at Indiana State University as their 50th anniversary program, October 27, 2016

  • Inframince Concert Series 3, Claude Monet, Ilshin Hall, Korea, May 31, 2016

  • Comissioned by TheClassicArt in Korea to write domumentary music of 'Four Seasons' in December, 2015

  • Received a commission and grant from Indiana State University Arts Endowment Committee to write a piece for Cramped Spaces, ensemble of ISU in December, 2015

  • Commissioned by Thegenbals Music Society to perform at Inframince concert series 2 in November, 2015

  • Programmed at Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival in Terre Haute in October, 2015

  • Performed at Vincennes University Indiana at State Conference in September, 2015.

  • Commissioned by Thegenbals Music Society to perform at Inframince concert series 1 which was broadcast by KBS in Korea in May, 2015.

  • Three-time nominee for Best Instructor in Music Theory (Eastman School of Music and Indiana University).

  • Appointed and currently serve as Chair of Commissioned Composer & Opus Composition Festival, Indiana Music Teachers' Association (IMTA).

  • Chosen as a finalist for the 2014 Respighi Composition Competition.

  • Selected as a Sioux Symphony Orchestra finalist for '2014 Composer of the Year'.

  • Won the Donghak Civil War theme song composition competition in Korea in August, 2014.

  • Received commission from the famous percussion quartet group IKTUS at the New Music Festival in Charlotte, NC, 2014.

  • Commissioned by the Indiana Chamber group in 2014 for a string quartet and performed the piece at Meridian Hall, Indiana.

  • Arranged two hymns published in Hymn for Him Volume 2 in 2014.

  • Served as music director and arranger at the 2014 NAKS conference at the Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana.

  • Commissioned by New York Classical Players with a performance in New York City for the 2012 opening season.

  • Commissioned by 'The 3Beats' to write a variation set on a famous theme of 'Fur Elise' by Beethoven which was broadcasted on television in 2012.

  • Commissioned by Carmel City to write theme music for the 2012 July 4th festival which was used in television and radio commercials.

  • Composed chamber piece which resulted in a performance at the 2009 SCI national conference at Ball State University.

  • Chosen as Miami selection for New Music Days as one of four finalists to represent USA at the 2009 International Society for Contemporary Music.

  • Won 2009 Excellence in Composition prize for Brass Ensemble at the International Brass Chamber Music Festival in Kentucky and an honorable mention in 2010 by International Alliance for Women in Music for the Libby Larsen Prize for Chamber Orchestra.

  • Wrote "7 Plagues" for string orchestra which was commissioned in 2003 by Kaeum String Orchestra.

  • Received formal teaching from Richard Wernick (Pulitzer Prize winner), Claude Baker, David Dzubay, David Sven Sandstrom, PQ Phan, Don Freund, Robert Morris, David Liptak, Allan Schiendler, Steven Stucky, Giles Swayne, and Stacy Garrup.

  • Taught a young novice musician to become a famous pianist and composer in Korea.

 

Professional Experience

Board Member of Cultural Inclusion at College Music Society, 2020 to current

Artist in Residence and Faculty, Anderson University, 2018 to current

Founder, President - Sound of Hope, Non Profit Organization serving communities through music

Adjunct Professor- Music Theory 2, Aural Comprehension 4 and Private composition lessons, Anderson University, 2015 to 2018

Chair of Opus Composition Competition- Indiana Music Teachers' Association, 2014 to current

Chair of Commissioned Composer Program- Indiana Music Teachers' Association, 2014 to current

Adjunct Professor - Music Appreciation, Ear Training I & II, Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, 2014 to Present

  • Design and teach three ear training courses and a music appreciation class on a full-time basis.

Church Pianist, Grace Community Church, Noblesville, IN, 2012 to Present

  • Plan, prepare and perform beautifully distinctive music at the largest church statewide.

Music Director, Korean Embassy, Chicago, 2014

  • Directed all aspects of a well-received National Day Concert.

Music Director, National Association of Korean Schools, Indianapolis, 2014

  • Led the opening concert music for NAKS.

Freelancer Composer & Private Teacher, self-employed, 1996 to Present

  • Taught and tutored students in music composition, theory, jazz improvisation, keyboard harmonization, and piano literature.

Assistant Instructor, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, 2005 to 2008

  • Taught advanced-level ear training, oral skills, sight singing, keyboard and basic music theory

  • Formulated innovative curriculum and lesson plans for between 40 and 50 students

Teaching Assistant, Eastman School of Music, 2003 to 2004

  • Designed and delivered an aural skills/music theory honors class, created original lesson plans and administered written and oral exams.

  • Leveraged an advanced and fast-paced curriculum to facilitate instruction in music theory, keyboard harmonization, improvisation, oral skills and sight singing.

Graduate Assistant, Eastman School of Music, 2002 to 2003

  • Applied dynamic organizational skills toward coordinating composition seminars and concerts.

 

Education

Doctor of Music, Composition (minor in Music Theory and Organ Performance), Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, IN, 2011

Master of Music, Composition (minor in Music Theory and Piano Performance), Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2004

Master of Arts, Pedagogy in Theory, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2004

Bachelor of Music, Composition (minor in Piano Performance), Yonsei University, Seoul Korea, 2000