John Young Shik Concklin

John Young Shik Concklin, conductor, currently serves as Music Director of the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and Conductor with the Atlanta Music Project and Piedmont Chamber Orchestra. He is praised for his clear beat, strong sense of rhythm, inviting gravitas, and innovative mind.. For the 2022/23 season, he is a Music Director Finalist with the Spartanburg Philharmonic.

John was National Finalist for the 2019-2020 American Prize in Conducting, has competed internationally at the Almaty Conducting Competition, the Nino Rota Conducting Competition, and as the only American in the Città di Brescia Conducting Competition, and is been frequently invited to cover conduct the Nashville and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras.

Previous positions include Associate Conductor of the Georgia Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and faculty appointments at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, Furman University, Clemson University, and Converse College.

A frequent adjudicator, John has appeared at Oberlin Conservatory, Kent State University, the South Carolina Governor's School, and numerous All-State Festivals. In addition, he continues his project from the Yale School of Music entitled "Music and Art," through which students utilize music and art as catalysts for creative writing.

John studied at Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is grateful for his mentors, which include David Zinman, Carl Topilow, Shinik Hahm, and Robin Fountain. He received further training from Lorin Maazel and Michael Tilson-Thomas. He has been a fellowship conductor at the Aspen Music Festival, a teaching assistant at the Brevard Music Center, and a finalist at the New World Symphony and Debut Orchestras.

A flexible musician, John has also performed as concertmaster of the Superbowl Halftime Show, was engaged to conduct the national anthem at the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (canceled due to COVID-19), and collaborated with Monica, the Grammy-winning artist. John is an active violist and together with his wife, Lauren Maxwell, co-founded Mozart for a Cause, an annual benefit concert that highlights chamber music.