Leadership
Artist Director
HieYon Choi
An acclaimed pianist and faculty member at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, HieYon is the founder and artistic guidance for the Collective. A milestone in her career was marked by her Beethoven cycles. She serves on the jury panels of prestigious international competitions, including the Beethoven, Busoni, and Geneva competitions.
Legal Director
Marilyn Fisher
Marilyn is a retired lawyer with more than 30 years of private practice experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, real estate development, and nonprofit organizations. She serves on the boards of several charitable organizations and provides legal guidance to the Beethovenian Collective, helping build a thoughtful and sustainable foundation for its continued growth.
Executive Director & Twin Cities
Seolyeong Jeong
A versatile pianist and a driving force behind the Collective, Seolyeong spearheads strategic operations and serves as the primary leadership contact for the Twin Cities chapter. She served as an adjunct faculty and collaborative pianist at leading institutions, including the New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, MIT, and the University of Tampa. She holds degrees from Seoul National University, Yale University, and Rice University.
Development Director & Southern California
Hyun Jeong Ahn
Hyun Jeong oversees fundraising and development initiatives while serving as the primary leadership contact for the San Diego chapter. A dedicated educator, she serves on the faculty at the San Diego State Community Music School and Grossmont College, having completed her advanced musical training at Seoul National University, the Peabody Institute, and the University of Illinois.
Program Director & Greater Baltimore
Yang Gao
Yang has multiple roles within the Beethovenian Collective: he oversees House Concerts in the Greater Baltimore area, leads the Beethovenian Junior Piano Competition, and serves as global Mentorship Coordinator. Yang currently serves as a Piano Minor Instructor at the Peabody Institute and a Chamber Music Instructor for the Homewood Chamber Music Seminar at Johns Hopkins University.
Volunteer Lead
Ashley Kim
A cheerful and brilliant leader, Ashley has led and participated in student-led initiatives and volunteer groups 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 for academic excellence and leadership, she coordinates volunteer efforts and helps welcome 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
The founder and president of the Future Classical Music Foundation, Andrew guided us through our founding, step by step. A Wisconsin native, Andrew was appointed principal trumpet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2001 by Yuri Temirkanov. Before coming to Baltimore, he served as principal trumpet of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta. A dedicated Bach performer, Andrew has released several recordings, including Soli Deo Gloria.
Artistic Advisor
Hyunah Yu Brody
Praised as “a lovely voice with diamond purity,” Baltimore-based, world-renowned soprano Hyunah has been our spiritual guide in so many ways. Winner of the prestigious Naumburg Competition and recipient of the coveted Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, she has recorded Bach and Mozart arias for EMI and performed worldwide with some of the world’s most esteemed conductors.
Strategic & Philanthropic Advisor
Michelle Elkins
As a former technology and IT executive at Honeywell, Michelle has provided strategic and organizational guidance throughout our founding. Drawing on more than two decades of leadership experience, she has supported numerous nonprofit organizations whose missions align with her values. Michelle continues to pursue photography while remaining deeply committed to volunteerism. Together with her husband, Trey, Michelle became Beethovenian Collective’s first donor.
Program Advisor
Hyun-Sook Park
Hyun-Sook is a key advisor to all of our educational programs, including serving as director of our Junior Piano Competition. She is a longtime member of the Peabody faculty, teaching at both the Conservatory and the Preparatory. One of the most sought-after piano pedagogues in the Baltimore area, she also developed Peabody Outreach for Piano Pedagogy, an initiative serving students in Baltimore City.