Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyra Hong.
Hi Kyra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Music was one of my very first loves since as long as I can remember, yet even as the sounds of Beethoven’s piano solos lulled me to sleep every night, my path with it has never been linear. One of my colleagues recently said that a musician’s career is never a straight line, and I resonated so very much with that.
I started playing the cello when I was 7 years old because I was so incredibly taken with the beauty of its song. They say that the cello is the closest instrument to the human voice, and I was enraptured by the depth of its soul. However, little me realized very quickly that playing a string instrument was no joke. I didn’t have the discipline for it at the time and put down the cello until I tentatively picked it back up again at the age of 13, but only at my mother’s suggestion. My little sister had just recently taken up the violin, and she wanted us to both try the new local orchestra together. This group was the Dripping Springs Youth Orchestra, and I had no idea how much joining this little ensemble of young musicians would change my life.
I remember how in that very first semester of orchestra I was faced with a seemingly dauntless challenge- play the second position shift in Holst’s Jupiter in tune, or else our director, Dr. Jan Davis, would slap tapes on my cello. I practiced those two lines for hours in the sticky August heat, even through tears of frustration, but will never forget the thrill of delight I received when I passed the test at our next rehearsal. I think it’s safe to say I was hooked from then on.
Playing in an orchestra is such a unique experience in that, similar to a team sport, all the members of the orchestra must come together to make an end result that is aligned in real time. Where orchestra differs from sports, then, is its deep emotional connection within each player to the music that is being performed. It may be difficult to understand classical music at times, but I encourage any listener to try to focus on not what the music sounds like, but how it breathes. When we listen to the breath of the music, we start to understand the story being told.
As I neared the end of my high school years, I was certain that I would pursue a career in music education with the cello. I wanted to serve our local communities as an orchestra director and help young children learn about this beautiful art form. My plans, however, were derailed when I faced an injury in my left wrist that left me unable to play the cello at full function or capacity. I had to make a quick decision, but my incredible mother’s guidance led me to apply to the Butler School of Music at UT Austin for Music Composition.
Did I think she was a little crazy at first for suggesting I major in writing music? Yes, I did. After all, I had never actually finished writing a whole piece of music before my injury. I wasn’t left with much choice, though, and so I decided to put my best foot forward. I was blessed to be accepted to UT on a full scholarship and began my studies in a vibrant musical scene that was, thankfully, close to home. It was during this first year at university that I discovered the vibrant musical language of conducting, and once again, my path diverged.
In the fall of 2025, I was given the opportunity to conduct the Dripping Springs Youth Orchestra- the very ensemble that first taught me the joys of orchestra, in an incredible full-circle moment. I realized that there was a need for an ensemble for younger string players who had some experience in their instrument but were new to playing in a group setting. Because of this, I asked the President of the Arts Alliance of Central Texas, Jim Martin, if he’d be willing to let me start a beginning orchestra group. Once he said yes, the rest was history. My group and I have learned so much together. They have taught me not only how to be an effective conductor, but also how to expand my teaching skills in communicating these musical ideas to the youth. We have enjoyed giving back to our community by playing for local assisted living centers, and will continue to do so in the future.
Conducting, to me, is like playing an instrument in itself. Not only must the conductor be entirely in-tune with every aspect of their body and how it communicates music from limb to limb, but we are also responsible for drawing the orchestra into one singular vision. The very best conductors can be likened to that of a painter, splashing music into life in real time, and that, to me, is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
I hope to someday pursue conducting professionally, and in the meantime, will continue to apply myself towards working hard so that I can truly embody the music I wish to bring into the soundscape of this earth.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of my greatest challenges has been that I simply have too many interests and not enough time. I struggle greatly with high-performing ADHD and anxiety, which can turn into an awful curse of not being able to focus on the tasks I need to complete, but not being able to rest due to the uncompleted tasks. It has been and will continue to be a long learning process of finding the delicate balance between diligence and avoiding burnout. My brain often bursts with creative ideas that get me incredibly excited, but I rarely follow them through, so they end up just as a singular flash in a plan. I have been blessed, however, to have an amazing support system of my family, my musical mentors, and my community. They have constantly uplifted me in more ways than I can count, and I am indebted to them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides my work in conducting, I also enjoy creating compositions. My pieces draw inspiration from stories- whether that be the stories in my own mind, or children’s tales spun into a new musical tale. Currently, I am creating a historical musical that explores my Korean heritage and mixes classical elements with traditional Korean folk songs and instruments. I have also written several chamber pieces and am now branching into full orchestral pieces. One of my greatest joys has been to write educational string orchestra pieces that I have premiered with the Dripping Springs Youth Orchestra. Writing music for young players is so fulfilling in that not only am I able to write a piece that is enjoyable for the musicians, but one that is also approachable and engaging from a pedagogical standpoint.
For the past four years, I have also had the privilege of sustaining my own private music studio in which I teach cello, violin, voice, and piano. Through my teaching, I felt more often than not that I was the student myself. Teaching has helped me to learn the best ways to compartmentalize both the biomechanics of the musician’s body and the musical ideas on the page so that my students can understand. Being both an educator and a learner simultaneously is truly the foundation of my career and one that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.
While pursuing my musical pursuits, I also love to explore the options that arts administration and marketing for musicians have to offer. I am currently pursuing a minor in arts management and administration, and was the first recipient of the Charlotte Barbini Legacy Award. This summer, I will be interning with the Philadelphia International Music Festival and learning about all of the workings that go on to bring an educational program of such a large caliber to life.
What were you like growing up?
Ever heard the saying “head in the clouds”? That was me, except we might want to add “nose” in the books to that sentiment. As a child, I was often so greatly taken with the great worlds that existed in my mind- cities in the snow, battles between the ants in the grass, and the way the wind made the stretches of hay fields shimmer like liquid gold in the summer sun. I kept my horse and animal encyclopedias tucked on top of my desk so that they were always at hand, and had an odd thirst for learning about ancient histories and civilizations. I still carry those fascinations with me. I was also never without a song between my lips or in my head, a soundtrack for the dreamy inner world that kept me company when I was little.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kyrahong.com/
- Instagram: @kyrahongofficial
- Facebook: @kyrahongofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kyrahongofficial
