JOA Choir from Busan, South Korea
Conducted by Gun-Yoon Lee
UW-Whitewater Chamber Singers and Harmonia
Conducted by Robert Gehrenbeck
Wednesday, March 4, 7:30 pm
First United Methodist Church
145 S. Prairie Street, Whitewater
Free Admission
On Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 pm, First United Methodist Church in Whitewater will host a concert by the JOA Choir from South Korea. Conducted by Gun-Yoon Lee, the choir was invited by the American Choral Directors Association to perform as a headlining ensemble at the 2026 ACDA Midwestern Region Conference in Milwaukee. In conjunction with this appearance, the JOA Choir will also visit multiple Wisconsin universities, including UW-Whitewater. Performing alongside the JOA Choir on March 4 will be the UW-W Chamber Singers and Harmonia Women’s Choir, conducted by Robert Gehrenbeck.
JOA Choir – Busan, Korea
Founded in January of 2016, JOA CHOIR marks a decade of musical exploration. Based in Busan and designated a professional arts organization by Busan Metropolitan City, this Ladies’ Choir is guided by conductor Gun-Yoon Lee. They interpret and perform a diverse repertoire—from classical to popular music, traditional Korean sounds, and jazz—through the distinctive beauty and delicacy of women’s voices. Pursuing a sound that stands apart from conventional female choirs, they offer a fresh model to Korea’s arts scene and are growing toward the global stage. In 2022, they drew strong attention as one of the most notable choirs on the audition TV show Sing For Gold, and in 2025 they won the Grand Prix at the Korea International Choral Competition (KICC).
Gun-Yoon Lee – Conductor
A Busan-born composer-conductor, Gun-Yoon is the principal conductor of the Anyang City Boys & Girls Chorus and conductor of the Sunhwa Arts School Choir. A pupil of the eminent maestro Yoon Hak-won, he conducts both Western symphony orchestras and Korean Gugak ensembles, and has earned praise for operatic and choral works that fuse artistry with accessibility. He is widely regarded as a next-generation maestro advancing Korean choral conductor and composer on the world stage.
