For Conductor Abigail Koo, Music Makes the World a Better Place

Five years before joining the WPI Orchestra as its new conductor, Abigail Koo was building a career as an award-winning musician, with the talent and educational pedigree needed to command prestigious podiums around the world—such as those in Lucerne, Salzburg, Moscow, and Seoul—and across the United States.

A prolific solo pianist, chamber musician, orchestral violinist, and conductor, she studied and collaborated with eminent conductors and kept up a rigorous performing schedule.

But in 2016, she put a pause on her career and moved to Cambodia with her husband and two young children, committing to five years of humanitarian work to serve others and putting her Christian faith into action.

“What touched me the most was the resilient strength of the people of Cambodia and Myanmar after what they’ve been through,” says Koo, whose parents grew up in post-war Korea. “I’m still relatively young, and my kids are young enough, so focusing on this project at this point in of our lives seemed right.”

Koo received her undergraduate degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music and her master of music degree and performance diploma for postgraduate study at Indiana University. She also undertook doctoral studies in orchestral conducting as a Dean’s Merit Scholarship recipient.

Throughout her studies and in her career, Koo has been undeterred by the gender biases she has encountered in an industry dominated by men, an imbalance shown starkly in the fact that the top 25 orchestras in the United States are all currently led by male conductors.

“I’m quite short in stature, too, which doesn’t really help when someone is looking for this grand maestro on the podium,” she says. “But I’m not deterred by the naysayers because if you are passionate about something, you shouldn’t let society, or your family, or anyone dictate what you do. Musicians are the first ones to know who is genuine or not. They are the first ones to know who is faking up there and who is actually making music.”

Koo says she can relate to the challenges faced by women in science fields traditionally dominated by men, and hopes she can offer a positive example of success.

“Don’t let gender bias deter you from what you want from life. It’s going to take hard work and determination—there’s no way around that. Because of your gender, there may be more obstacles. But don’t wait until those paths are cleared for you to go forward,” she says. “And as you go forward, other people will get inspired.”

Upon returning from Cambodia, Koo made the deliberate decision not to return to the insular classical music world of conservatories and professional orchestras. WPI’s project-based learning appealed to her, especially the emphasis on how STEM interacts with the world.

“Many classical musicians focus on preserving music as if it was in a museum. Music is supposed to connect to other parts of life, such as literature and technology,” she says. “At WPI, students are not just learning from their textbooks and in their classrooms. Their whole education is about going to places and making real-life changes.”

Koo is leveraging the orchestra’s endowment, established by generous alumni who recognize how important music was to their STEM education, to invite guest musicians and master instructors to campus so students can learn from the industry’s best talent.

“At WPI, I envision a place where students can connect with world-class musicians and get conservatory-level training,” she says. Some examples: Boston Symphony Orchestra’s assistant principal cellist Oliver Aldort taught a master class this spring; internationally acclaimed trumpeter Christopher Coletti served as a guest soloist at the orchestra’s performance in February; and violinist Gary Levinson, associate principal concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, visited in April.

“These instructors are top-notch musicians. They are also excited to have an influence on the students who will be making the world run once they graduate,” Koo says. “I want students see that you really can excel in both music and science.”

She is also hoping to establish a more formal relationship between the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and WPI, creating a pipeline for more master instructors and guest performers, in addition to establishing a partner for future Interactive Qualifying Projects.

“The BSO is interested in making an impact beyond their community. What better way than to connect with the future technology innovators at WPI,” she says. “And WPI will be the only STEM school to partner with a major symphony orchestra.”