“AS I GOT TO KNOW HER MORE, I REALIZED THE LOVE SHE HAS FOR THE ORGANIZATION, FOR CHAMBER MUSIC. SHE HAS A WAY OF MAKING ALL OF US WANT TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO MEET HER STANDARDS. IN THAT WAY, SHE HAS ENRICHED THE ORGANIZATION AND ALL OF US.”
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
The 82-year-old has been heavily involved in the organization ever since. “I have always enjoyed classical music and opera,” Koh explains. “I thought it was wonderful for a small community to be hosting musicians that are really world-renowned. I wanted to be involved and part of an organization that was sponsoring such wonderful music.”
TOWNE SALUTE
Susan Koh
Today, Koh has her hand in nearly every aspect of the organization. She co-chairs the organization’s biggest annual event, the Chamber Music Festival, now held in the newly-restored Ebenezer Theater in Easton, and she’s one of the most active board members.
By Tom Worgo
For 10 years, she also served as editor of Chesapeake Music’s newsletter, Interlude. Under her leadership, the publication expanded dramatically and gained more visibility.
usan Koh’s love of music goes back almost 80 years to her childhood in New York City. As a kid, Koh loved attending performances at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York with her cousin, an opera singer. In college, she and her future husband Barry often went to concerts at the New York Philharmonic. Later, as their professional careers took them to different cities, they attended numerous symphony orchestra concerts.
“Her dedication to Chesapeake music is astounding,” says Anna Snow, co-chair of the music festival. “I met Susan when I agreed to volunteer for Chesapeake Music at the time. She was already the chair. For me, she was an extraordinary mentor.
Once Koh retired after 35 years as an elementary school teacher, including 26 years at Baltimore’s Park School, she and Barry moved to Easton. In 2007, they went to a show presented by the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival. She absolutely loved the event, and it led to her finding a new post-retirement calling as a volunteer for the nonprofit, Chesapeake Music.
“As I got to know her more, I realized the love she has for the organization, for chamber music,” she adds. “She has a way of making all of us want to do our very best to meet
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her standards. In that way, she has enriched the organization and all of us.” After Koh’s 10-year stint with the newsletter, Chesapeake Music Executive Director Don Buxton named her cochair of the music festival in January, 2019. The position required much more work and time, but she took it and ran with it enthusiastically. The biggest change Koh implemented involved having more young performers in the festival. In February, the organization held their first Rising Stars concert. A second one will be held this winter. “Four young musicians presented this first-time program in our area for interested music students,” she says of last year. “This year, we continued offering a concert for young people with the same four musicians presenting a recorded concert for middle school students in the Talbot County and Dorchester County schools in the spring. We look forward to continuing this connection to the county schools.” When it came to this year’s festival, Koh faced a challenge like she may never see again. Chesapeake Music had planned on having live performances. But at the last minute, the board decided against it. All the shows were held virtually.
