Un-Young Whang

Un-Young Whang was born in Seoul, Korea, and began concertizing at 10 years of age as a soloist with Seoul Symphony Orchestra. At 14, she won the Presidential Award for Excellence in piano and received a grant from the Korean government to study abroad. She was accepted as a scholarship student in the Pre-College Division at The Juilliard School in New York, where she earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance. She continued her studies under Dr. Robert Pace at Teachers College, Columbia University, earning Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees. 

Her principal piano teachers were Ania Dorfmann, William Masselos and Ann Schein. In addition, she was given opportunities by her generous teachers to study with Lillian Kallir, Aube Tzerko, Hebert Stessin, and Leon Fleisher during the summers while she was at Juilliard.

Dr. Whang is a solo and chamber player of both classical and sacred music. She has given recitals and played with orchestras in many concert halls including Carnegie Recital Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Aspen Summer Music Festival, and National Orchestra Hall in Seoul. She has also served as the pianist of various churches for over 30 years in the New York and Chicago areas. 

On numerous occasions, Dr. Whang has collaborated with her colleagues Dr. Elizabeth Naegele and Mrs. Mona Williams Coalter, giving concerts and workshops in churches, colleges, and conferences. WMBI and affiliate radio stations air selections from “Grateful Hands,” the Coalter-Whang piano duo team's CD of sacred and classical piano duet music. In 2012, Drs. Whang and Naegele released a CD, “Solid Joys and Lasting Treasure.” It contains an eclectic program of classical and sacred organ solos, piano solos, and piano/organ duets. It also features new music, inlcuding unpublished works by current and retired composition professors from Moody Bible Institute. 

Dr. Whang considers it a privilege to have used her training in international ministries. She has shared the Gospel through music and testimonies on mission trips to Asia, Africa and Central America. She also enjoys using her training in teaching children. She is a certified Musikgarten teacher and has been giving piano lessons to children and teenagers for over 40 years. 

Dr. Whang joined the music faculty of the Moody Bible Institute in 1987 and is a Professor of Music, teaching piano, music theory, piano pedagogy, and early childhood music ministries. 

With Grateful Hands. Released with Mona Coalter. Moody Bible Institute Sacred Music Department, 2002, compact disc.