Collaborative Artistry: Dr. Seulki Susie Yoo’s Passion for Musical Partnerships

Growing up with musician sibling Hansol Yoo, who is currently an opera singer in Bielefeld, Germany, Seulki developed a natural inclination to share the stage with other musicians.

As a prodigy, Seulki attended Yewon School and Seoul Art High School in South Korea, renowned institutions for their rigorous arts programs and competitive audition process. Seulki feels privileged for the opportunity to perform alongside her close friends and engage in meaningful conversation about music with them during her time at those schools.

Seulki received critical acclaim for her collaborative performances, with feedback such as “terrific playing and artistry” (Patricia Weitzel, Bass Professor at Penn State University, Marketing Chair of the International Society of Bassists), and praise for her “sensitivity” (Andreas Oeste, Oboe Professor at Penn State University). She was also received as “a wonderful chamber musician and collaborator, who demonstrates how to rehearse effectively and helps other musicians play their best” (Tim Deighton, Viola Professor at Penn State University).

Seulki says “I believe that collaborative ensembles facilitate the ultimate goal of the performer: to transcend the boundary between stage and audience. The nonverbal understanding between instruments is the cornerstone of such delivery; establishing this is a key professional and personal pursuit.”

Seulki’s collaborative projects are not limited to specific instrument combinations or genres; rather she emphasizes breadth. Her projects vary from traditional ensemble forms to creative cross-genre collaborations.

In 2017, Seulki participated in the Bowdoin International Festival, where she performed in a Schumann piano quintet ensemble, and she was invited to perform alongside esteemed musicians at Penn’s Woods Festival, sponsored by Public Media for Central Pennsylvania in 2022. Notably, Seulki collaborated with highly renowned bassist Joel Qurrington at Penn State Bass Day, who warmly regarded her performance, stating that “Seulki’s performance was flawless and of a sublime quality.” (Joel Quarrington, Bass Professor at Conservatoire de musique de Montréal).

During her time at Korea National University of Arts, she participated in the university’s ambitious project to collectively perform the entire Debussy Preludes within a day. Collaborating with her pianist colleagues, they successfully presented all 24 Debussy Preludes, showcasing their unique imagination and culminating in an outstanding concert.

Seulki also enjoys participating in a creative format in cross-genre collaboration. In 2015, she collaborated with musicians and a painter, including violinist Jung Yeon Lim (KBS orchestra assistant principal), soprano Su Jin Joo, and Western painter Hye Sook Song (KoreArt Institute Dean). Their performance resonated warmly with the audience, as the music fostered a deep understanding of the painter’s intentions and facilitated communication between the audience and the artists on stage.

As someone who firmly believes in the transformative power of music, Seulki actively engages in charitable concerts with fellow musicians. She was invited to virtually participate in the International Goldberg Variations Charity Project hosted by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada during Covid 19 pandemic. Additionally, she performed in the UUFCC Young Artists Concert Series to raise the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund in the United States. Seulki has also taken part in ensemble concerts with Penn State University faculty and graduate students at Penn State The Village Retirement Center and Foxdale Village Retirement Center (PA, USA).

To Seulki, the key to a successful collaborative or ensemble recital lies in honest discussion with fellow musicians. Drawing on her diverse interests in music theory, psychology and physics, she is dedicated to studying the creation of the proper sound based on the genre and size of ensemble, as well as the interconnected cognitive psychology of musicians on stage. “I believe that delving into these concepts enhances sensitivity and allows for an exploration of timbre within a repertoire in a symbiotic environment.” says Seulki.

Seulki is excited about her upcoming collaborative project with Matteo Maria Salvo, an Italian contemporary composer and a composition professor at Conservatory “G. Nicolini” of Piacenza, Italy. Matteo’s music is renowned for its exploration of sounds, and has been invited to numerous places such as Darmstädter Ferienkurse, Teatro Monumental, Festival Pontino, MusicaRivaFestival, KLK New Music, and more. Both Matteo and Seulki anticipate that this new collaborative project will provide an invigorating and refreshing experience for the audience.