Joung-A Monica Yum is an internationally trained conductor and scholar whose work seamlessly weaves together Western choral artistry, extended vocal technique, and Korean traditional vocal aesthetics. She is widely recognized for her musical sensitivity, intercultural vision, and her belief that music is a profound language of connection, spirituality, and human resilience.

Yum currently serves as the Music Director of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Los Angeles, where she leads The Schola Cantorum, the Caritas Choir, and the parish’s large-scale liturgical and concert initiatives. Her leadership has expanded the parish’s artistic presence through collaborations with the music schools in LA community engagement concerts, and deeply expressive sacred music programming that honors both tradition and contemporary innovation.

She is also the Artistic Director of Adoro Ensemble (Los Angeles & Seoul), a bi-continental vocal ensemble known for its adventurous programming and commitment to artistic excellence. Under her direction, Adoro Ensemble presents repertoire spanning medieval and Renaissance music, modern works, and intercultural collaborations—including Jewish–Christian holiday programs, newly commissioned works, and projects that explore the boundaries of vocal tradition. Her artistic philosophy centers on creating performances that are both musically refined and emotionally transformative.

Yum’s musical training spans two countries and some of the most respected choral institutions. She earned her Master of Music from the Korea National University of Arts (K’arts), where she studied conducting under the mentorship of Dr. Hongsoo Kim, developing a strong foundation in musical discipline, vocal color, and stylistic nuance. She continued her graduate studies at Texas State University, working closely with the internationally renowned conductor and composer Dr. Craig Hella Johnson, whose artistic humanity and choral sound world deeply influenced her approach to ensemble building and expressive communication.

She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying under Dr. James Bass, one of the leading figures in American choral performance. At UCLA, Yum cultivated her scholarly research on extended vocal technique and intercultural vocal practice. Her dissertation, Recontextualizing Diverse Vocal Traditions Using Extended Vocal Technique Notation and Symbology, focuses on bridging Korean pansori vocal aesthetics with Western contemporary notation—pioneering a methodology that allows multicultural vocal traditions to be integrated more authentically into modern choral composition.

Her conducting is often described as grounded, spiritually resonant, collaborative, and artistically precise. With a musical journey that began at the piano and evolved into a lifelong exploration of voice, culture, and human expression, she brings an unusually holistic and thoughtful artistry to every project.

A passionate advocate for intercultural dialogue and the transformative power of choral music, Joung-A Monica Yum continues to shape meaningful musical experiences that reflect her core life theme: bridging and connecting people through music—one voice, one community, and one moment of beauty at a time.