JJ is sponsored by Mary Pikul Anderson for Midsummer’s 2024 season.

Hailed by The Columbus Dispatch as having “gorgeous sound and dynamic nuance,” JJ Koh joined the Madison Symphony Orchestra as Principal Clarinet in 2016. For the 2018-2019 season, he served as Acting Assistant Principal/Eb Clarinet with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and holds a position with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Koh has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and New World Symphony.

As a founding member of the Arundo Donax Reed Quintet, winners of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, JJ has commissioned and recorded multiple works, taught master classes, and performed in various concert settings across the country. Koh, the principal clarinetist of KammerMahler, has participated in the world-premiere recording project featuring chamber versions of Gustav Mahler’s Fourth and Ninth Symphonies. Additionally, he has premiered works by notable composers such as Augusta Reed Thomas, Bernard Rands, Harry Stafylakis, David Canfield, and Perry Goldstein and recorded with Nimbus Records, Tanner-Monagle, Enharmonic Records, and New Dynamic Records.

Summer festival appearances have included the National Repertory Orchestra, Lake George Music Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival, Midsummer’s Music, Washington Island Music Festival, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival where he held a Fellowship for five summers. Koh completed his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees under the instruction of Eli Eban and James Campbell at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he also served as an Associate Instructor. His final recital was awarded the Performer’s Certificate, one of the highest honors awarded by the institution.

Koh is a D’Addario Woodwinds performing artist and product consultant.

“It is difficult to imagine a better setting for chamber music than Door County. Making music with my wonderful colleagues and being part of the community is an incredible experience and something I always look forward to. The Midsummer’s Music family is fortunate to call Door County ‘home.'”