“Here’s a talent to watch, and an album to admire.”
- All About Jazz
Hailing from South Korea and now based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Seulah Noh is a pianist, composer, and conductor whose work bridges classical, jazz, and orchestral traditions. Her music is distinguished by expansive orchestration, contemporary jazz language, and a deep sensitivity to color and texture. Drawing on her diverse musical background, Noh moves fluidly between genres and disciplines, bringing a distinctive perspective to each of her artistic endeavors.
Her debut album, NOhMAD (2023), received widespread critical acclaim. All About Jazz praised Noh’s ability to create “sophisticated and sometimes daring portraits in sound,” while The Jazz Word described her writing as “a meeting point between Pat Metheny’s modern jazz textures and the layered sophistication of Maria Schneider’s big band sound.” Paris Move named her “a name to watch for in the years to come.” Written for her 21-piece Seulah Noh Jazz Orchestra, NOhMAD expands the traditional big band format by incorporating a string quartet, drawing on Noh’s classical background to create a rich soundscape that moves fluidly between contemporary jazz, fusion, and orchestral music.
Beyond her work in jazz, Noh has maintained a deep connection to musical theater, bringing her experience as a pianist, music director, and pit conductor to productions in both South Korea and the United States. Before relocating to the U.S. to pursue her career in jazz, she served as music director and pit conductor for numerous musical theater productions in South Korea.
She continued this work after settling in the U.S., directing productions at Boston University, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Bridge Repertory Theater, and other institutions and theater companies. She currently serves as a collaborative pianist at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, working closely with faculty in classes and annual musical productions.
Noh’s work has brought her into collaboration with artists including Kurt Elling, Mike Rodriguez, Andrew Bishop, and Rosana Eckert. Her compositions have received recognition from the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra’s annual composition contest and the DownBeat Student Music Awards, and have been performed by ensembles around the world, including those at the University of Michigan, Iowa State University, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Keio University in Japan. She has also received commissions from institutions and ensembles including the University of Michigan and Yakima Valley College.
Mentorship and education are also central to Noh’s artistic practice. Alongside her work with collegiate ensembles as a guest artist and composer, she has served as a composition mentor for students under 18 through the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, with a particular focus on chamber ensemble writing. Her commitment to mentoring emerging musicians reflects her broader interest in creating spaces where young composers can explore and develop their own artistic voices.
Noh continues to lead the Seulah Noh Jazz Orchestra in performances across the United States, with appearances at venues and festivals including the Korean Cultural Center New York, the Western Michigan Jazz Society Summer Series, and the Michigan Jazz Festival.
Noh holds a bachelor’s degree in Classical Piano Performance from Ewha Womans University, a second bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance and Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music, and a master’s degree in Jazz Composition from New England Conservatory.
Noh was recently selected as the winner of the 11th George Duke Commissioning Prize. As part of the award, she will compose a new work to be premiered by the 68-piece Symphonic Jazz Orchestra in concert, on November 2027. The composition will also become part of the organization’s catalog of symphonic jazz commissions.