About | Helen Cha-Pyo

B i o g r a p h y

Dynamic, visionary, and passionate about using music to make a difference, Helen H. Cha-Pyo is an award-winning conductor and arts leader, currently in her seventh season as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts—New Jersey’s largest independent performing arts education organization. Under her inspiring leadership, Wharton Arts has reached new heights, serving nearly 2,000 students across 13 New Jersey counties. Cha-Pyo has spearheaded innovative initiatives, including lifelong learning programs, free educational concerts for schoolchildren, and a significant expansion of jazz programs. She has also been a fierce advocate for underrepresented composers, bringing their voices to the forefront through groundbreaking concert programming and new commissions, supported by prestigious grants from organizations like New Music USA and Chorus America.

As the leader of the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), Cha-Pyo has guided the flagship ensemble, Youth Symphony, on an international tour to Italy and created unforgettable performance experiences, including standout appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Juneteenth Celebration concerts in 2022 and 2024. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and inclusivity has made NJYS a second home for over 500 talented and dedicated young musicians across New Jersey.

Cha-Pyo’s tenure as Music Director and Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) for 16 years is a testament to her extraordinary ability to inspire young musicians. Under her leadership, ESYO became one of the nation’s premier music organizations for youth, embarking on international

Photo: © Kimberly M. Wang | @eardogfoto | eardog.com

tours to Europe, China, South Korea, and Portugal. Her dedication to adventurous programming earned ESYO multiple ASCAP awards, and her vision led to the creation of ESYO CHIME, a program that brings music education to underprivileged youth in Schenectady and Troy, NY. In honor of her legacy, ESYO established the Helen Cha-Pyo Golden Baton Award and Scholarships, celebrating students who embody her committment to music as a means to uplift and enpassion for music as a force for community enrichment.

Beyond the concert hall, Cha-Pyo’s influence has been widely recognized. In 2019, she received The Dove Leadership Award from the David & Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund for her global impact as a musician who inspires young people. Her leadership and commitment to social change through music have also earned her the 2022 Angelos Artist Award and the prestigious Eastman Centennial Award from the Eastman School of Music.

Earlier in her career, Cha-Pyo made a significant impact as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Riverside Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir in New York City from 1996 to 2002, where she also served as Associate Director of Music at The Riverside Church, spearheading free educational concerts for public school children in NYC PS districts 4, 5, and 6. During this time, she recorded three albums with the Riverside Choir (JAV Recordings). From 2009 to 2013, she was the Artistic Director for the Kenya Jirani Children's Choir and Harlem Jirani Children's Ensemble, part of the Jirani Cultural Organization, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of children through music. Her commitment included regular trips to Kenya to train local conductors and lead the ensembles on tours to South Korea and the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area of the United States.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrating to the U.S. at the age of 12, Cha-Pyo’s musical journey began with piano and organ studies at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Program. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music in Choral and Orchestral Conducting and Organ Performance from the Eastman School of Music.

Cha-Pyo is a sought-after guest conductor and clinician, leading All-State and Regional Festival Orchestras across the country and teaching at Montclair State University and Rutgers University. She has also guest conducted and led workshops in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Currently, she serves on the board of the Youth Orchestra Division and the Conductors Constituency Leadership Committee of the League of American Orchestras. Discover more about her work as an arts leader at helenchapyo.com and whartonarts.org.

Short Biography

Dynamic, visionary, and passionate about using music to make a difference, Helen H. Cha-Pyo is an award-winning conductor and arts leader, currently in her seventh season as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts—New Jersey’s largest independent performing arts education organization. Under her inspiring leadership, Wharton Arts has soared to new heights, serving nearly 2,000 students across 13 New Jersey counties. Cha-Pyo has spearheaded innovative initiatives including lifelong learning programs, free education concerts for school children, and a significant expansion of jazz programs. She has also been a fierce advocate for underrepresented composers, bringing their voices to the forefront through groundbreaking concert programming and new commissions, supported by prestigious grants from organizations like New Music USA and Chorus America.

Leading the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), Cha-Pyo has guided the flagship ensemble, Youth Symphony, on an international tour to Italy, creating unforgettable performance experiences, including standout appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Juneteenth Celebration concerts in 2022 and 2024. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and inclusivity has transformed NJYS into a second home for over 500 talented and dedicated young musicians across New Jersey.

Previously, Cha-Pyo served as Music Director and Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) for 16 years. During her tenure, she led ESYO on three international tours and founded ESYO’s CHIME program, which provides music education for underprivileged youth in Schenectady, NY. In recognition of her passionate commitment to using music as a means to uplift and enrich communities, ESYO established the Helen Cha-Pyo Golden Baton Award and Scholarships.

Cha-Pyo is a sought-after guest conductor and clinician for All-State and Regional Festival Orchestras nationwide. She has also served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Conducting at Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music and at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Cha-Pyo’s impact as an arts leader has earned her numerous accolades, including The Dove Leadership Award, the Angelos Artist Award, and the Eastman Centennial Award, all in recognition of her commitment to creating access and equity in music education for young people.

She currently serves as a board member for the Youth Orchestra Division of the League of American Orchestras. For more about Helen Cha-Pyo, visit helenchapyo.com and whartonarts.org.