Danny Koo in concert (February MainStage)

Ko Gyo Hyun, known professionally as Danny Koo, is a South Korean-American violinist and radio host. Both his parents are Korean but moved to the United States and he was later born in Chicago. He took an interest to music and particularly to the violin at the age of 6 thanks to his uncle who was also a violinist. At age 16 he decided to study violin full-time and later, he was admitted to the New England Conservatory of Music. He has a broad musical spectrum and is distinguished not only as a classical soloist and chamber musician, but also in various genres such as jazz and pop.

Danny has been active as a host in various radio programs and has also taught students at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, the Royal Academy of Music and Taylor Academy for Young Artists and has given two TED talks on the power of classical music. In 2016, he met musician Richard Yongjae O’Neill and that led to a relationship with O’Neill’s agency, Credia, and he also became a guest of O’Neill’s music ensemble, Ditto. He went back and forth between the US and South Korean until 2021 when he decided to move permanently to Seoul.