Life & Work with Pyeongkang Park of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pyeongkang Park.

Hi Pyeongkang , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to the United States with my family in August 2015 to begin my studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey. However, because of financial difficulties, I was unable to complete my master’s degree there. At one point, I seriously considered returning to Korea.

During that difficult season, I was given an unexpected opportunity to continue my studies at Georgia State University with a full scholarship and stipend. In 2017, my family and I relocated to Georgia to begin a new chapter in our lives.

While studying in New Jersey, I devoted myself entirely to school and practice. In fact, I never even visited New York City despite living nearby. But after I decided to move to Georgia, I began to realize that my life in America could end at any time, regardless of my own plans. That realization changed my perspective. I decided that if I was given the opportunity to remain in the United States, I would pursue the things I truly wanted to do without regret.

In June 2017, while my family was moving to Georgia, we were involved in a car accident. Thankfully, my wife, Seon Yeong, and our two daughters, Zion (15) and Reion (10), were unharmed, but our vehicle was completely totaled. After receiving approximately $6,000 from the insurance company, we purchased another car for about $1,500. After taxes and other expenses, we had roughly $3,000 remaining.

I told my wife that I wanted to use that money to organize a concert in America. Rather than discouraging me during such an uncertain time, she warmly supported my dream and encouraged me to take the challenge. With that remaining $3,000 and the support of Salt and Light Presbyterian Church, I organized my very first concert outside of an academic setting in November 2017: a commemorative performance celebrating the 500th Anniversary Reformation Celebration Concert.

Preparing a concert in Georgia without knowing anyone was an enormous challenge. However, people around me began introducing musicians, and through Facebook and personal outreach, I was able to gather performers who were willing to help. By God’s grace, the concert was successfully completed, and through that experience, I gained confidence that I could truly build something meaningful in America.

In 2018, I visited the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta while they were preparing for the 99th Anniversary March 1st Independence Movement commemoration. At the time, only two or three weeks remained before the event. I asked if I could organize and conduct the commemorative concert, and thankfully they entrusted me with the opportunity. The performance was successfully presented, and through these early concerts I gradually met outstanding musicians and received encouraging support from audiences.

As these performances continued, I officially organized an orchestra under the name Atlanta Sinfonia. Together, we presented concerts such as the Beethoven 250th Anniversary Concert, the 100th Anniversary March 1st Independence Movement Concert, and the 100th Anniversary Korean Film Music Concert. Some musicians who performed with me from the earliest years remain with me today as members of the Lawrenceville Symphony Orchestra, including Rogelio Bonilla-Pedra and Jacob Guidi, both of whom have since completed their doctoral studies.

In 2020, I was honored to receive a full scholarship and stipend from University of Georgia, where I began my doctoral studies in conducting under the guidance of Mark Cedel. During my doctoral years from 2020 to 2023, I met many wonderful colleagues and friends who later became important members of the Lawrenceville Symphony Orchestra. Among them are Dr. Michael Robinson, Professor of Music Education at the University of Georgia and a horn player, as well as Ava Cosman, who currently serves as the Development Manager and Violist of LSO.

In 2024, I met Natalie Cho at a gathering. During our conversation, I learned that she served as a board member of Aurora Theatre, and she kindly introduced me to the organization. That connection eventually led to a partnership with Aurora Theatre.

In August 2024, we held a special concert announcing the partnership alongside distinguished community leaders including Sang-pyo Suh, David Still, and Ann-Carol Pence. Later that October, we presented the inaugural concert of the Lawrenceville Symphony Orchestra.

Every concert I have conducted remains meaningful to me, but that inaugural performance holds a particularly special place in my heart. It was a moment filled with overwhelming gratitude, emotion, and a deep sense that God had faithfully guided every difficult step of the journey.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, in any meaningful work there are always challenges, and I am no exception. Even now, I continue to pray for the strength and wisdom to endure and overcome those difficulties. Leading an orchestra requires not only artistic vision, but also significant financial resources, dedicated personnel, perseverance, and constant effort.

Everything I have been able to do so far has been by God’s grace, and through the faithful support of our donors and the commitment of our musicians. Without them, none of this would have been possible.

My hope is that the Lawrenceville Symphony Orchestra (LSO) will continue to grow into an orchestra that our local community can truly take pride in. I also hope that our home, the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC), will become a place of rest and inspiration for our audiences, and a place where our musicians feel a deep sense of pride and can fully devote themselves to their artistry.

Finally, I would like to humbly ask those reading this to consider supporting the orchestra. Even a small contribution—five dollars a month, the cost of a cup of coffee—can make a meaningful difference. Your generosity can help bring greater richness to our community and share joy with many through the power of music.

Monthly Donor Program (From $5/month): You can become a sustaining supporter to help fund our community concerts and educational programs. Convenient automatic monthly giving is available directly through our official website.: https://www.lwvso.com/checkout?checkoutId=ca727402-f5b0-4c0b-8840-867fc28f3d97&successUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lwvso.com%2Fdonation-thank-you-page%2F%3Forderid%3D%7BorderId%7D%2526campaignid%3D11daab1a-2ba3-4a84-98a1-9ae061546631&contentAppId=333b456e-dd48-4d6b-b32b-9fd48d74e163&contentComponentId=da4e05fc-2a03-44f9-aee6-f6398c5a7cb4&disableContinueShopping=true

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently serve as the Founder and Artistic Director of the Lawrenceville Symphony Orchestra (LSO). Among my accomplishments in the United States, I would say I am most proud of founding the orchestra in 2024 and seeing it become a residential orchestra at the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC), where we continue to perform for and engage with the local community.

As a conductor, I feel deeply grateful to God. I am blessed to work with dedicated musicians, to share music with audiences who come to listen, and to have spaces where music can be brought to life. I believe these are tremendous blessings and privileges for any conductor.

Conducting is, in many ways, a unique profession. The conductor is the only musician on stage who does not produce a sound. Alone, a conductor can do nothing and, in fact, has no purpose without others. Without musicians, the role itself becomes meaningless.

Perhaps that is why, through music, I have always wanted to become someone meaningful to others not only within the field of music, but also as a contributor to the broader community. For me, music is not just about performance, but it is about service and connection.

This perspective has led me to engage in various community-centered projects beyond normal concerts. One example is the 20th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Concert I organized in September 2021 at Killian Hill Christian School (KHCS) in Lilburn. This performance honored the victims and families affected by the September 11 attacks, while also commemorating the Asian women who lost their lives in the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings. Through this program, I sought to raise awareness about racial discrimination and hate crimes, and to highlight the importance of unity and human dignity within our community. I felt a deep sense of gratitude and pride in being able to communicate such messages through music.

This year also marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, a significant milestone across the country. Gwinnett County Government is preparing a series of commemorative events, America 250: Celebrating Our Journey. I am truly honored that the LSO has been invited to perform. I will be conducting a special concert on August 1, 8 P.M. at the Lawrenceville Lawn. It is a privilege to be part of such a meaningful occasion, and I believe it will remain one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences of my career.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Looking back, I was a perfectly ordinary child. I wasn’t an academic standout, nor did I possess any extraordinary talents. I simply loved hanging out with friends and was passionate about sports. At one point, I dreamt of becoming a professional baseball or soccer player. However, without the opportunity for formal training, I eventually had to let that dream go.

My path shifted in the 9th grade when I encountered the trumpet for the first time. Our church was forming an orchestra, and when my parents suggested I join, I initially wanted to play the violin or the flute. But following our pastor’s recommendation, I picked up the trumpet. Playing it was fun, but compared to my peers, I was still just an average student. In the arts and sports, we often see prodigies who start at age four or five and walk a so-called “elite path.” I was never that kind of person.

When I left South Korea for the United States in 2015, I remember the final words I shared with my students: “Many people look at ‘nepo babies’ with envy or despair, and there were times I, too, wished I possessed that kind of innate, genius musicality. But I am just as ordinary as you are. I want to show you what happens when an ordinary person gives their absolute everything. This isn’t a promise that I will become a massive success, but rather a vow that I will never give up, and that I will walk my path until the very end.”

I still recall those words from time to time. I haven’t given up. And I am still walking that path today.

Pricing:

• Monthly Donor Program (From $5/month): You can become a sustaining supporter to help fund our community concerts and educational programs. Convenient automatic monthly giving is available directly through our official website.: https://www.lwvso.com/checkout?checkoutId=ca727402-f5b0-4c0b-8840-867fc28f3d97&successUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lwvso.com%2Fdonation-thank-you-page%2F%3Forderid%3D%7BorderId%7D%2526campaignid%3D11daab1a-2ba3-4a84-98a1-9ae061546631&contentAppId=333b456e-dd48-4d6b-b32b-9fd48d74e163&contentComponentId=da4e05fc-2a03-44f9-aee6-f6398c5a7cb4&disableContinueShopping=true
• Concert Tickets ($20 – $30): General admission ticket prices vary by performance. Tickets can be purchased online in advance through our website or at the box office on the day of the event.
• Upcoming 2026–2027 Concert Season: August 1, 2026: America 250 (Live at the Lawrenceville Lawn) November 7, 2026: Epic Landscapes: Earth and Sky (Lawrenceville Arts Center) February 27, 2027: Echoes of 200 Years: Beyond Beethoven (Lawrenceville Arts Center) May 13, 2027: Masterworks of Light and Shadow (Lawrenceville Arts Center)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lwvso.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawrencevillesymphony/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Lawrenceville-Symphony-Orchestra-61562823488684/