2024 new musicians
Meet the New DSO Musicians!
Hyunjoo Choo,
Assistant Concertmaster
Critically acclaimed for her “innate instrumental prowess,” violinist Hyunjoo Choo is praised for displaying “technical assurance as well as showing effortless virtuosity with her beautiful tone” by critics. At age 11, she made her concert debut with the National Symphony Orchestra and has since appeared extensively as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician at major international venues throughout the United States, Korea and Europe.
Meet Hyunjoo
Hometown: Seoul, Korea
Where did you study? Juilliard, Indiana University and Seoul National University
What’s your favorite piece? I am a hopeless when it comes to picking favorites – it’s whatever I am working on at the moment!
What’s your favorite movie? I’ll go with a recent rewatch, About Time. It’s a lovely movie.
What TV show are you currently watching> / What’s your favorite TV show? Friends – it’s an oldie but a goodie!
What’s your favorite food/meal? Homemade Korean
What is your favorite place to travel and why? Korea – because it’s home!
Why did you choose your instrument? Apparently, it proved the most promising out of all other attempted hobbies at age six! Later, when it came down to choosing between violin and piano, my tiny hands couldn’t handle anything more than an octave on the piano. Still working around it! I fell in love with the violin much later, and more as the years go by.
What are you looking forward to playing this season? Everything!
What are you looking forward to about living in Dallas? Exploring all the amazing food and places, meeting friends and colleagues and making music together!
Marci Gurnow,
Bass Clarinet/Clarinet
Marci Gurnow was appointed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in 2024 as Bass/Utility Clarinet. Prior to joining the DSO, she has served as the second clarinetist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 2016 and was named acting Associate Principal for the 2023-24 season.
Meet Marci
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Where did you study? Southern Methodist University and Northwestern University
Who is your favorite composer? Gustav Mahler
What’s your favorite piece? Brahms Clarinet Quintet
What’s your favorite movie? Amélie
What’s your favorite TV show? Ted Lasso
What’s your favorite food/meal? Spanish tapas
What is your favorite place to travel and why? I love to go anywhere that I can immerse myself in a different culture. One of the most special places I’ve visited is India.
Why did you choose your instrument? I wish I had a great story about choosing clarinet, but the truth is that it was between clarinet and trombone in middle school band, and I didn’t want to carry a trombone home on the bus! I started playing bass clarinet in college and fell in love with the lower, more mellow end of the clarinet spectrum.
What are you looking forward to playing this season? I am very excited to have the rare opportunity to perform the entire Ring Cycle! I am also really looking forward to Mahler’s Second Symphony, which was my first Mahler love!
What are you looking forward to about living in Dallas? I’m looking forward to working with all of my new colleagues! I went to DSO concerts weekly during my undergrad years, and it’s really special to now be on the same stage. I’m also excited to explore the food scene!
Robert Greer,
Bibliotecario Principal Asociado
Robert Greer began working as an Associate Librarian for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in August 2018. He studied Music Theory and Composition at the University of Texas at Arlington with Dr. George Chave, where he also studieded viola and guitar. After college he began working as a Music Librarian with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Meet Robert
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Where did you study? University of Texas at Arlington
Who is your favorite composer? Mahler by a mile.
What’s your favorite piece? Mahler Symphony No. 2
What’s your favorite movie? The Shawshank Redemption
What TV show are you currently watching? / What’s your favorite TV show? “The Boys” is my favorite show that I am currently watching. “The Wire” and “Justified” are a couple of my favorite shows ever.
What’s your favorite food/meal? I love Tex/Mex and especially chips and salsa.
What is your favorite place to travel and why? Northern California all the way up to Vancouver on the west coast. The weather is perfect near the ocean and there is a lot of good food and beer.
Why did you choose your instrument? I played viola in school, but I always preferred the nuts and bolts of music to performing. So, when I learned that there was a job where you get to be an integral part of the music and music making without being on the stage for performances, I knew it was a perfect career for me.
What are you looking forward to playing this season? Mahler 2. See above.