Mina Cho

Mina Cho is a multifaceted scholar, jazz pianist, and composer based in Boston, with a specialization in Korean music and history. She holds a faculty position in Emerson College's Performing Arts Department, where she teaches global music courses, encompassing both traditional and contemporary Korean music. Mina earned her PhD in Musicology from Brandeis University and her DMA in Jazz Composition, with a minor in Musicology, from the New England Conservatory.

Her scholarship centers on the intersection of Korean spirituality and music history, inspiring her to cross cultural boundaries through research and creative work while deepening her connection to her Korean heritage. Mina's proficiency in classical music and jazz is complemented by her dedication to mastering the theory and practice of traditional Korean music, including Pansori, Janggu, Gayageum, Ajaeng, and Haegeum. This has enhanced her research and enriched her musical endeavors in the realm of Korean traditional music.

Mina's musical works highlight the fusion of Korean traditional music with contemporary styles. As the director of Korean cultural ensembles and organizations such as the Gugak Jazz Society, Boston Academy of Korean Traditional Arts (BAKTA), and International Gugak Jazz Institute (IGJI), she has collaborated with numerous community organizations, including the Korean Cultural Society of Boston, General Consulate of Korea in Boston, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Somerville Museum, and Korean-American Citizens League of New England. Particularly noteworthy is her role as director of BAKTA, where she actively promotes traditional Korean music education in Boston while performing at various cultural festivals in the U.S., Korea, and Europe.

• Founder & CEO of International Gugak Jazz Institute (IGJI)
• Director of Gugak Jazz Society
• Director of Contemporary Music, Somerville Community Baptist Church
• Ph.D. in Musicology (Brandeis University)
• D.M.A. in Jazz Studies–Composition & Musicology minor (New England Conservatory)
• M.M. in Jazz Studies–Composition; Pi Kappa Lambda nominee (New England Conservatory)
• B.M. in Jazz Composition and Film Scoring; Summa Cum Laude (Berklee College of Music)
• B.A. in Theology (Yonsei University)