Background History

Now in its 11th year, the non-profit Min Pak & Atlanta philharmonic Inc  was established in 2004 by Min H. Pak, the principal of the Atlanta Conservatory of Music, serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in metro Atlanta.

The Atlanta Conservatory of Music was established in 1993 ad organized the Atlanta Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Atlanta Conservatory of Music educate talented students to provide private lessons to group lessons in music and fine arts and organized more than 7 open concerts to the public to enrich the diverse community with music and arts. The Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra organized with diverse member in community and performed 13 performances in metro Atlanta to share their great music spirits. 

Milestones of the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra Inc

Piano - Gary Menzies

An accomplished pianist, Gary Menzies has fulfilled both solo and accompanist roles for over twenty-five years. Mr. Menzies is a graduate of Georgia State University. He has studied under Jeanine Morrison, Ruth McDonald, and Aida Tedder deBray. He was the first recipient of the Atlanta Steinway Society Scholarship under whose auspices he auditioned for William Masselos of the Julliard School of Music where he was awarded a place in the post-graduate program.

Previous recordings include an album of Gershwin music as well as a full program of Chopin works. He has served as Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Repertory Opera Company as well as Principal Improvisation Coach at the Georgia State University Opera Workshops. Within the last eight years, Mr. Menzies has been a prominently featured artist in five different Pianorama Concerts at the renowned Fox Theater in Atlanta Georgia. Recently as soloist in a performance of the Rachmaninoff Second Concerto with the Walton Symphony Orchestra, one critic described him as a'nativetreasure.' Gary has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to rave reviews on three seperate occasions.

Piano - Chun Mi Sun

피아니스트 천미선은 예원학교, 서울예술고등학교를 졸업하고 서울대학교 음악대학 기악과 졸업후 도미하여 클리블랜드 음악원에서 피아노 연주학 석사학위를 취득하였다. 재학 당시 클리블랜드 음악원 CIM Scholarship과 서울대학교 우등장학금, Woman in Music Scholarship Award, 신시내티 대학 Graduate Scholarship 등 각종 장학금을 수상하였으며, 한국의 음연 피아노 콩쿨, 삼익 피아노 콩쿨, 세계일보 콩쿨 등과 미국의 Milhaud Competition, 신시내티 대학의 Concerto Competition 과 Chamber Music Competition등 다수의 대회에 입상하였다. 또한 미국을 비롯한 유럽, 캐나다 등지의 음악 페스티발에 참가, Aspen Music Festival, New Paltz Music Festival, Banff Music Festival, Music Academy of St. Petersburg, Prague International Masterclass에서 독주 및 실내악 연주에 참여하였다. 서울과 부산 및 뉴욕, 클리블랜드, 콜럼버스, 신시내티, 아틀란타에서 독주회를 개최하였으며, 실내악 연주자로 오하이오 주립대, 조지아 주립대, 웨스트 조지아 대학에서 다수의 반주와 실내악 연주에 초청되어 연주하였다.

Euguen Pridonoff, Elisabeth Pridonoff, Daniel Shaprio, 구본희, 문익주 교수를 사사한 그는  신시내티 음악대학 연주학 박사과정을 수료하였으며 현재 조지아 크리스찬 대학교 음악대학 교수로 재직중이다.

Born in South Korea, pianist Misun Chun received a Bachelor of Music degree from Seoul National University in Korea and a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. After her doctoral study at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Ms. Chun has joined Georgia Christian University as an Assistant Professor of Piano since 2012.

Ms. Chun has been an award winner in the both concerto and chamber music competitions at the University of Cincinnati. Her performances include appearances at Aspen Music Festival, the Banff Centre for the Arts, New Paltz Music Festival, Music Academy of St. Petersburg, and Prague International Masterclasses. As an active chamber musician, Ms. Chun has performed with University of Cincinnati Chamber Players. As a collaborative pianist, she has been invited to perform at the Ohio State University, University of Georgia and the University of West Georgia. Ms. Chun has studied with Eugene and Elisabeth Pridonoff, Daniel Shapiro, and Ickchoo Moon.

Helen Yu Park - Mezzo Soprano

“…the artist of the evening was Helen Yu, a debut mezzo from Korea via Toronto, who looked like a little girl but effortlessly generated the largest sounds on stage.  The mezzo drought may be ending.”

“…But toward the close of act one, something wonderful happens…Helen Yu, a Korean-born mezzo-soprano with a rich, smoky voice.  In her single song, Yu brings to the show the emotional focus and captivating musicality, and suddenly-albeit briefly the evening is thrilling…”

Korean mezzo-soprano Helen Yu Park combines a voice of exceptional agility and strength. From Rosina in Barbiere di Siviglia to Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, her unfailing musicality allows her to reveal the individuality of each character within the music.

Ms. Park made her New York debut with the New York City Opera singing the role of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. Following her debut, Ms. Park’s frequent appearances with the New York City Opera have included a series of roles including Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Second and Third Lady in The Magic Flute, and a series of orchestral concerts in Madrid and Korea.  Ms. Park made her Metropolitan Opera debut singing Flosshilde in Das Rheingold and Gotterdammerung. She was also a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera Guild for two seasons.

Ms. Park made her musical theater debut as Lady Thiang in the National tour of the Broadway show The King and I. Additional credits include singing Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Grand Rapids; a major tour of the Far East and The United States with the Asian Youth Orchestra with Sergiu Comissiona,singing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, which she also sang with the Vancouver Symphony; Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana at the Berkshire Festival; and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Other roles include Maddalena in Rigoletto, Stephano in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Flora in La Traviata, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Mallika in Lakme, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Enrichetta in I Puritani.

As a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Ms. Park achieved instant success as a last minute replacement as Nancy in Britten’s Albert Herring.  She has appeared with EPCASO in Treviso, Italy, Toronto Opera in Concert, Toronto Operetta Theatre, The Juilliard Opera Center, L’Opera Francais, and the Korean-American Opera Company in New York.

Helen Yu Park holds a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School in New York.  Ms. Park has been a faculty member at University of Toronto (Canada), Oakland University in Michigan, Cranbrook Private School in Michigan, and at Montclair State University in New Jersey.  She is also a lecturer at Manhattan School of Music Summer Program covering various vocal techniques and styles for singers transitioning from classical to musical theatre genre.