Seung-Won Cho
By Lois Flowers
July 12, 2024

When Seung-Won Cho, Ph.D., was growing up in Seoul, South Korea, his first career goal was to become an engineer. Then, while singing with his church and high school choirs, he fell in love with choral music and, at age 17, decided to pursue a conservatory education instead.
He later earned a master’s and a doctorate in choral conducting. He spent 27 years serving in traditional music ministries with various Protestant churches while performing professionally as a conductor and organist. In 2023, he took on a new role – that of a college professor – when he and his family moved to Siloam Springs from Lubbock, Texas.
“Timing, transition and process, it was all [a] God thing to be at JBU,” Cho said, now JBU director of choral activities and assistant professor of music. “My family and I love this beautiful community. Particularly, we love green nature compared to West Texas.”
Like many other performing arts organizations, JBU’s choral and music program suffered due to strict rehearsal and performance restrictions during the pandemic. Before COVID, the university’s iconic Cathedral Choir ranged from 60 to 80 members, year to year. Today, it has 30. But Cho is working to rebuild.
With current students, he emphasizes “excellence, inspiration and having fun.” In his first year, not only was the choir able to develop a strong spiritual community by participating in the traditional Candlelight Service, choir retreat, and tour, but the group also learned and memorized more than 50 songs of increasing difficulty over two semesters.
To attract future JBU students, Cho has offered choral workshops at area high schools and met with local choir directors. JBU’s music program also began hosting All-Region prep clinics for high school choirs in Northwest Arkansas, drawing nearly 200 students last fall.
Through it all, Cho is grateful for the opportunity to integrate faith in learning and make music that glorifies God. “I have found my strength and joy in ministering and inspiring people through music with the Holy Spirit’s help,” he said. “Music is indeed powerful to touch people’s hearts and transform people’s lives.”