John Concklin

Guest Conductor & Music Director Finalist

John Young Shik Concklin studied at Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition, Concklin has been a fellowship conductor at the Aspen Music Festival, a teaching assistant at the Brevard Music Center, and a finalist at the New World Symphony and Debut Orchestras. Concklin has also served as conducting faculty at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, Furman University, Clemson University, and Converse College.

Previous positions include Associate Conductor of the Georgia Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and Music Director of the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. Concklin has appeared as an adjudicator at Oberlin Conservatory, Kent State University, the South Carolina Governor’s School, and numerous AllState Festivals. In addition, he continues his project from the Yale School of Music entitled “Music and Art,” through which students utilize music and art as catalysts for creative writing.

As a Conductor, Concklin has received praise for his clear beat, strong sense of rhythm, inviting gravitas, and innovative mind. Concklin currently serves as Conductor with the Atlanta Music Project and Piedmont Chamber Orchestra. For the 2021/22 season, he is a Music Director Finalist with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and Aiken Symphony Orchestra and returns to the Spartanburg Philharmonic after an acclaimed debut in 2018.

A flexible musician, John has also performed as concertmaster of the Superbowl Halftime Show, was engaged to conduct the national anthem at the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (canceled due to COVID-19), and collaborated with Monica, the Grammy-winning artist. John is an active violist and together with his wife, Lauren Maxwell, co-founded Mozart for a Cause, an annual benefit concert that highlights chamber music. JohnConcklin.com

“Concklin’s beat is clear, his sense of rhythm strong...Copland’s masterpiece emerged freshly scrubbed, as vital as ever.”

- Pierre Ruhe, ArtsATL.Com