Hyeseon Hong — Composer & Bandleader
Hyeseon Hong (hay-son · hong) is a Korean jazz composer and arranger whose music bridges the musical cultures of Seoul and New York. Through the Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra, she brings together contemporary large-ensemble jazz, classical influences, and elements of Korean traditional music to create a distinctive and deeply personal sound.
Her compositions combine memorable melodies, adventurous improvisation, and richly orchestrated, impressionistic textures. Drawing inspiration from Korean art and its relationship with the natural world, Hong approaches composition with the eye of a painter, creating vivid musical landscapes shaped by rhythm, color, and movement.
Her acclaimed debut album, EE-YA-GI (Summit Records, 2017), introduced her unique approach to modern big-band writing. Her latest work, Things Will Pass, continues that musical journey, exploring themes of memory, resilience, loss, and renewal with an ensemble of leading New York jazz musicians.
혜선 홍은 서울과 뉴욕을 기반으로 활동해 온 재즈 작곡가이자 편곡가입니다. Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra를 통해 현대 빅밴드 재즈와 클래식 음악, 한국 전통음악의 요소를 결합하며 자신만의 독창적인 음악 세계를 만들어가고 있습니다.
한국적인 리듬과 선율, 풍부한 오케스트레이션과 즉흥연주가 어우러진 그녀의 음악은 자연, 기억, 문화적 정체성에서 영감을 받아 하나의 생생한 음악적 풍경을 그려냅니다. 2017년 데뷔 앨범 EE-YA-GI에 이어 최근 작품 Things Will Pass에서는 상실, 회복, 기억과 새로운 시작이라는 주제를 더욱 깊이 탐구하고 있습니다.
“Boat Song” performed live by the Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra at Brightside Tavern in Jersey City, featuring Hyeseon Hong’s original composition and arrangement for large jazz ensemble.