Leadership
Artist Director
HieYon Choi
An acclaimed pianist and faculty member at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, HieYon founded the Collective to share her lifelong devotion to Beethoven with others. Her Beethoven cycles remain a defining milestone in her career, and she continues to serve on the juries of prestigious competitions, including those in Beethoven, Busoni, and Geneva.
Legal Director
Marilyn Fisher
A retired lawyer with more than 30 years of private practice experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, real estate development, and nonprofit organizations, Marilyn generously lends her expertise to help the Collective build a thoughtful and sustainable foundation. She also serves on the boards of several charitable organizations.
Executive Director & Twin Cities
Seolyeong Jeong
A versatile pianist and driving force behind the Collective, Seolyeong spearheads strategic operations and serves as the primary leadership contact for the Twin Cities chapter. She has held various academic, administrative, and collaborative piano positions at institutions including the University of Tampa, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, and MIT.
Development Director & Southern California
Hyun Jeong Ahn
A dedicated educator, Hyun Jeong serves on the faculty of the San Diego State Community Music School and Grossmont College. She brings her commitment to education and community engagement to development and fundraising, while leading the Collective’s Southern California chapter.
Program Director & Greater Baltimore
Yang Gao
A pianist and instructor at the Peabody Institute and Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus, Yang oversees house concerts in Greater Baltimore, co-directs the Junior Piano Competition alongside Program Advisor Hyun-Sook Park, and serves as the Collective’s global mentorship coordinator.
Volunteer Lead
Ashley Kim
A cheerful and brilliant leader, Ashley has a longstanding interest in student-led initiatives and volunteer work while pursuing degrees in cognitive science and piano performance at Johns Hopkins University. A three-time National YoungArts Piano winner and recipient of the Estberg Scholarship, she welcomes and supports new volunteers.
Advisors
Our advisors bring diverse expertise—from music to law to philanthropy—helping guide the Beethovenian Collective's growth and lending their wisdom as the organization continues to evolve.
Founding Advisor
Andrew Balio
A dedicated Bach performer whose work includes Soli Deo Gloria (2022), Andrew has served as principal trumpet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2001, following his tenure as principal trumpet of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta. As founder and president of the Future Classical Music Foundation, he has provided the Collective with valuable early guidance drawn from his own experience.
Artistic Advisor
Hyunah Yu Brody
Praised as “a lovely voice with diamond purity,” Baltimore-based soprano Hyunah Yu Brody is internationally acclaimed for her artistry. A winner of the Naumburg Competition and recipient of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, she made her EMI debut with works by Bach and Mozart. She has also been a dedicated supporter of contemporary composers and a valued source of artistic guidance for the Collective.
Strategic & Philanthropic Advisor
Michelle Elkins
A former technology and IT executive at Honeywell, Michelle has provided strategic and organizational guidance since the Collective’s founding. Drawing on more than two decades of leadership experience, she has supported numerous nonprofit organizations whose missions align with her values. She continues to pursue photography while remaining deeply committed to volunteerism.
Program Advisor
Hyun-Sook Park
Hyun-Sook is a key advisor to the Collective’s educational programs and co-directs its Junior Piano Competition. One of the most sought-after piano pedagogues in the Baltimore area, she has long served on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory and Preparatory. She also developed Peabody Outreach for Piano Pedagogy, an initiative serving students in Baltimore City.