South Carolina’s Spartanburg Philharmonic Hires New Music Director

Conductor John Young Shik Concklin has been appointed on an initial three-season contract

After a two-year search that began in August 2021, the Spartanburg Philharmonic has selected conductor John Young Shik Concklin as its 10th music director for its 95th season. 

With an initial 160 applicants, the search was narrowed down to nine finalists. The search committee involved four orchestra musicians, four board members, two staff members, and a leading arts executive and consultant.

To begin his tenure on an initial contract of three years, Concklin has already begun programming for the upcoming season, which will launch on September 16, 2023. Pieces include new works from resident composer Peter B. Kay and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9.

Concklin was first appointed to the Spartanburg Philharmonic as a violist. In 2018, he made his conducting debut with them, leading two John Williams concerts to great acclaim.

Praised for his clear beat, rhythmic command, gravitas, and creativity, he returned to the Philharmonic as a music director finalist in 2022, and later that year, served as a substitute conductor.

He will continue serving as music director for Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Atlanta Music Project and Piedmont Chamber Orchestra. 

Previously, he served as associate conductor of the Georgia Symphony, assistant conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, fellowship conductor at the Aspen Music Festival, a teaching assistant at the Brevard Music Center, and a finalist at the New World Symphony and Debut Orchestras. 

A national finalist for the 2019-2020 American Prize in Conducting, Concklin has competed internationally at the Almaty Conducting Competition, the Nino Rota Conducting Competition, and as the only American in the Città di Brescia Conducting Competition.

He has held faculty appointments at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, Furman University, Clemson University, and Converse College. With his wife, he is co-founder of Mozart for a Cause — an annual concert raising funds for local causes.

A Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music graduate, his mentors have included David Zinman, Carl Topilow, Shinik Hahm, Robin Fountain, Lorin Maazel, and Michael Tilson-Thomas.  

“My musical and personal life are deeply intertwined with this community, and I always dreamt of what it would be like to lead this storied ensemble,” Concklin said. “After years of anticipation, here we are! The chapter ahead will be filled with meaningful collaboration and music making,” he continued. “I cannot wait to carry Spartanburg’s rich musical legacy forward; alongside you, the passionate Spartanburg community, the talented musicians and devoted patrons who have kept it vibrant for so long.”

“From the very beginning, the search committee committed to finding the perfect fit for our organization and for our musicians — we believe John Young Shik Concklin is that person,” added the orchestra’s board president and search committee chair, Karen Parrott. “John gets us — Spartanburg, our community, our musicians — and we are thrilled that he is our 10th Music Director.”