Yonsei Alumna Kim Bo-mi (Department of Church Music) “I feel great responsibilities as the first woman conductor. This is very special to me, and I feel proud to be a Korean and woman conductor.” Kim Bo-mi has become the first woman and Asian conductor to lead the Vienna Boys’ Choir in 514 years. The Vienna Boys’ Choir has never been led by a woman conductor until now, and she is an alumna of Yonsei University in the Department of Church Music. After graduation, she was educated in the Les Sense Part Lucke School of Music in Germany and is currently in a doctoral program in the Vienna State Conservatory. On November 4th, Kim Bo-mi was appointed as the principal conductor of the Mozart Choir, one of the four choirs in Vienna Boys’ Choir. She has, however, been leading the choir as principal conductor since last September. She led the choir’s performance in the Musikverein building in September, receiving favorable comments. According to an acquaintance of Kim’s, “Many locals are excited at and pleased with Kim’s prominence as principal conductor.” “I had to compete with two other candidates for principal conductor,” Kim said. She adds, “The principal conductor of the Vienna Boys’ Choir requires not only musical talent in piano, chorus, and conducting, but also takes the leadership role of 25 boys. I am confident and comfortable with leading groups of children, and I believe this comes from my past experiences of conducting and accompanying with church choirs.” As the world’s best children’s choir, the Vienna Boys’ Choir was founded in 1498 and is also famous to be the choir in which Composers Haydn and Schubert took part in their childhood. Composed of four choirs—the Haydn, Mozart, Bruckner, and Schubert, the Choir holds performances worldwide, participating in the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s concert and Vienna State Opera theater. The Mozart choir, led my Kim Bo-mi, is planned to have a tour concert in Japan in April next year.