JULIAN KWOUN, COMPOSER/ARRANGER

Julian Hae Yoon Kwoun is a composer, arranger, transcriber, and conductor whose work spans across multiple genres; including classical, jazz, popular, folk, electroacoustic, instrumental and vocal.

His most advanced skillsets lay on arrangements and orchestration, keeping a keen eye on the importance of “arranging FOR the players themselves.” As a composer, the environmental surroundings and happenings are what inspires him the most within his works. As a Korean-American, Korean folk music and jazz are used extensively for his compositions. Having been collaborating with various ensembles as a freelance composer and arranger, this has allowed him to conduct his own works and help expand the repertories of the ensembles individually unique to them. An avid enthusiast for handwritten scores, Julian greatly enjoys the process of transcribing scores for the sake of instrumentalists alike. Having tried various instruments throughout his youth and career, this has greatly enhanced his musical ability during his mandatory military service as band composer for the Republic of Korea Air Force Band (ROKAF).

Julian holds a Master of Music (MM) in Music Composition (2024) from Chicago College of Performing Arts(CCPA), Roosevelt University. A Bachelor of Arts (BA) CUM LAUDE in Classical Composition (2018) from Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre(EAMT), Tallinn.

Born in Philadelphia, Julian began violin and piano studies at the age of 5, later taking on clarinet, trumpet, and percussion during middle and high school years after migrating to South Korea in 2007. Around age 15 was when he took composition studies seriously, also having strong interests in score reading and orchestral conducting. After graduating from Gyeonggi Arts High School (2015) as composition major, he took part in the “Curtis Summerfest” as composition major taking masterclasses with David Ludwig and Shinuh Lee. Having studied under Tõnu Kõrvits and Helena Tulve at EAMT, Julian has greatly polished his skills as a skilful orchestrator and gained much delicacy when handling compositions. After studying under Frederick Gifford and Kyong Mee Choi at CCPA for the first year, Covid times has pushed him to finally serve at the Republic of Korea Air Force Band as composer, having been awarded the “Certification of Appreciation” by the United States Air Force. Returning back to CCPA to complete his Master’s has allowed him to study under David Clay Mettens and Matt Mason. He has attended various masterclasses during studies in Estonia, Korea, and the US with Aleksander Kościów, Piotr Borkowski, Spencer Topel, Rezo Kiknadze, Selga Mence, and Daron Hagen. Julian was awarded multiple Academic Scholarships by EAMT, the 1st prize commission from the “New Composer Competition” by the OR Art Ensemble Korea, the winner of the “CCPA String Chamber Music & Composition Collaboration Competition” by CCPA. Julian currently resides in South Korea as a freelance musician, holding titles as ‘Composer in Residence’ for both “Ikaros Ensemble” in Chicago, “Doodlian Percussion Ensemble” in Korea and many more to come. Occasionally, Julian performs as guest timpanist and percussionist for various minor orchestras around South Korea. He is also one of the main musicians associated with Made In Music (madeinmusic.co.kr) under copyright agreement with the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA).