MUSIC
Hae-Jeung Kang: Visionary Leader, Award-Winning Artist, and Innovator in Music Education
Hae-Jeung Kang is the Chief Executive Director of Symphonic Waves, where she is redefining music education through groundbreaking performance programs and transformative community initiatives. Originally from South Korea and now based in the vibrant Pacific Northwest, Hae-Jeung is a celebrated vocalist, composer, and educator whose career seamlessly blends artistic brilliance with visionary leadership.
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Hae-Jeung’s illustrious accolades include winning the 2016 American Songwriting Awards and achieving finalist and honorable mention recognition in the prestigious International Songwriting Competitions in both 2016 and 2017. In 2024, she secured the coveted title of winner in the Composers Cook-Off, hosted by the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, further cementing her status as a trailblazer in contemporary composition. Her extensive collaborations with world-renowned musicians have elevated her as a sought-after performer and mentor on global and regional stages alike.
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Her musical journey began at the tender age of five, rooted in classical piano and Korean traditional music. Hae-Jeung later honed her craft through rigorous academic pursuits, earning degrees in Jazz/Pop composition and vocal performance from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, LA, and in Jazz/Classical composition and performance from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. She was spotlighted by the esteemed Catalina Jazz Club as part of its “Young Artist Series,” earning accolades as one of the most promising composers and vocalists of her generation.
Not just an artist but a dynamic leader, Hae-Jeung earned an Executive MBA with honors in February 2023, blending her deep artistic expertise with strategic business acumen. This unique combination allows her to lead Symphonic Waves with a vision that empowers underrepresented communities, nurtures talent, and transforms lives through the universal power of music.
"​Hae-Jeung is an exceptional vocalist and composer with a high level of sophistication. She creates rich harmonies with versatility and a variety of colors. Her composition skills go far beyond the level of some jazz artists who can write a song or a tune. Hae-Jeung's masterful orchestration and works show the beautiful complexities of intertwined musical instruments."
- Reggie Workman
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"In the world of Vocal music, Hae-Jeung is quite unique. She isn't out to dazzle you with overwhelming technique. Hae-Jeung tells wonderful stories of love, heartache, and joy,
in a gentle, honest, and sincere way."
- Mike Campbell
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"Hae-Jeung Kang's compositions take the listeners on a richly colorful and emotionally evocative journey!"
- Rory Stuart
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"Hae-Jeung's sophisticated minimalism and Zen-like harmony between her vocal and just a single instrument (piano) remind me of the power of Shirley Horn’s “Close Enough for Love” or Stacey Kent’s “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” or even Stevie Wonder’s “Lately.” That said, Hae-Jeung has found her own path and developed her own individual style and touch. This is easy listening and cool jazz at its best!”
- Johannes Tan
