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In Sang
Hwang

Composer /

Conductor /

Vocal coach /

Image of In Sang Hwang

A talented composer and conductor from South Korea, now based in Italy, specializing in choral and orchestral works.

Image of In Sang Hwang

Born in Jinan, South Korea, In Sang Hwang graduated from the National State University Chonbuk and has performed in various operas and concerts. Since moving to Italy in 1999, he has studied at the Conservatories of Perugia and Parma, specializing in choral conducting and composition under renowned maestros.

Career Highlights

In Sang Hwang’s career is distinguished by numerous accolades and significant artistic achievements. He has won prestigious composition competitions, including the Premio Romanza da Salotto (2009, Conegliano), Franchino Gaffurio (2010, Lodi), and received awards at the Creative Composer 2018 (Alicante, Spain). In 2017, he was honored with the Bacchetta di Pace award in Assisi for his work in sacred music. As a conductor, he has led the Coro Santo Spirito since 2001 and, since 2022, the Coro Lirico dell’Umbria, performing operas such as Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Il Tabarro, Gianni Schicchi, and Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. He also presented his composition Piccolo Requiem and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria at the Sagra Musicale Umbra.

Image of In Sang Hwang
Image of In Sang Hwang

Prizes and Competitions

Winner of various composition competitions, he has received numerous awards together with the Choir, including:

  • International Composition Competition “Premio Romanza da Salotto” (2009, Conegliano)
  • “Franchino Gaffurio” Competition (2010, Lodi)
  • Second Prize in the television contest “La Canzone di Noi” (2014, TV2000, Channel 28)
  • Special Prize (for “Baciami”) and Honorary Prize (for “La canzone della terra”) at the “Creative Composer 2018” Competition (Live Free Orchestra section, Ravel Association, Alicante, Spain)

Notable Performances

For the 71st Edition of the Sagra Musicale Umbra (2016), he collaborated with the choir and Tunisian singer Abir Nasraoui on a program of Sufi songs.

In 2017, he received the “Bacchetta di Pace” (Baton of Peace) award in Assisi, conferred by the Assisi Suono Sacro Association and the “International Center for Peace among Peoples.”

Numerous have been his performances at the Sagra Musicale Umbra in recent years, with works by Eddie Hawkins (Missa Nobis), Alexis Lvoff (Stabat Mater), and Francesco Morlacchi (Requiem Mass).

At the 78th Edition of the Sagra Musicale Umbra, he presented his composition “Piccolo Requiem,” a tribute to Eddie Hawkins.

Early Career in South Korea

In Sang Hwang was born in Jinan, South Korea. He graduated with a degree in Singing from Chonbuk National University, where he specialized in vocal performance and, in 1987, won the Regional Prize for Lyric Singing.

As a singer, he performed in 1997 in the role of Dr. Grenvil in Verdi’s La Traviata, in a special production mounted to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his alma mater’s founding. In 1998, he performed the role of Bartolo in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, in a production by the Jeonbuk Munhwa Hwoegwan Theatre in South Korea.

Training in Italy

In 1999, he moved to Italy to study at the “F. Morlacchi” Conservatory in Perugia. In 2008, he received a diploma in Choral Music and Choral Conducting under the guidance of Gabriella Agosti and studied Composition with Stefano Bracci.

He subsequently graduated in Orchestra Conducting from the “A. Boito” Conservatory of Music in Parma, under the guidance of Pietro Veneri.

He furthered his training by attending courses and masterclasses in both orchestral and choral conducting with Maestros Filippo Maria Bressan, Niel Thomson, Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli, Pierpaolo Scattolin, and Nicola Conci.

Conducting Positions

Since 2001, he has been the Principal Conductor of the Coro Santo Spirito in Perugia, a choral ensemble founded in 1968 by the young Don Saulo Scarabattoli.

In subsequent years, he has collaborated with numerous other choirs and vocal ensembles. As a conductor of significant symphonic-choral repertoire, he has led the choir in numerous performances at local and regional venues alongside various instrumental ensembles (I Solisti di Perugia, Seoul Central Symphonic Orchestra, Orchestra Nuova Scarlatti di Napoli, Orchestra Giovanile SR2). His repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary music, featuring works by Vivaldi, Albinoni, Carissimi, Charpentier, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Rossini, Morlacchi, Fauré, Donizetti, Brahms, Verdi, Lvoff, Puccini, Eddie Hawkins, and Antonio Rossi.

In 2009, he conducted Handel’s Messiah (complete version) with the Coro di S. Spirito and I Solisti di Perugia. In 2010, he was appointed conductor of the Corale Polifonica Volumnia.

Recent Appointments and Performances

In 2022, he was appointed conductor of the Coro Lirico dell’Umbria, with which he performed Puccini’s Suor Angelica in Castel Rigone (Sanctuary of Maria SS. dei Miracoli), Perugia (Church of S. Spirito), and Deruta (2023).

In 2023, he conducted Puccini’s Il Tabarro in Castiglione del Lago. Subsequently, he conducted P. Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana in Deruta (2024).

In December 2024, he performed the roles of Spinelloccio and the Notary in Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi at the Mengoni Theatre in Magione.

At the 80th Edition of the Sagra Musicale Umbra (2025), he presented G. Puccini’s Messa di Gloria.