One World Symphony = Our Artists = Our Founders

Our Founders

Hailed by The Village Voice as "a promising young conductor" and by The Korea Herald as "Creator of New York's Hip Classical," Sung Jin Hong is artistic director, conductor and a composer of One World Symphony in New York City. As a composer, The New York Times praised Hong's From The Alchemist as transforming "a novel to a lush Mahlerian sound." Hong has always embraced the opportunities to creatively interact with audience members, no matter what their musical experience. During recent Town Hall concerts, he has inspired the sold-out audiences to be active performers in Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, shared the magic of Stravinsky's The Firebird through engaging musical demonstrations, and delighted his audiences with the performance of music from Star Wars with the thrilling collaboration with The New York Jedi. With the assistance of Hungry March Band, a full house of audience members danced, cheered, and played the roles of ghosts in the world premiere of Gerard’s The Headless Horseman in One World Symphony’s Halloween Benefit in October 2009. A passionate educator, Hong was awarded a grant from VH1’s Save the Music Foundation to continue teaching at Harlem Children Zone’s The Promise Academy.

Hong's guest conducting engagements include "Lyrique-en-mer," Festival de Belle-Île in France, Stadt Wien Konservatorium in Vienna, Austria, Royal Northern Conservatory of Music in Manchester, UK, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Ballet, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, Mannes Orchestra, Manhattan Opera ensemble, Western Illinois University's Cello Choir, Illinois Wesleyan University's New Music Players, Bradley University's Wind Ensemble, St. Gregory Singers, Peoria Player's Theatre, and "Great Music for a Great City" in New York City.

In Vienna, he served as Principal Conductor of the IES Singverein. Hong has also served as Music Director and Conductor of Peoria Sinfonietta, apprentice conductor at The Bard Music Festival, and assistant conductor of Twin Cities Ballet Company.

An advocate of performing music by living composers, Hong has conducted works by award-winning composers such as John Corigliano, George Crumb, Michael Daugherty, George Perle, Steve Reich, and Joan Tower. Committed to supporting up and coming composers, Hong has conducted numerous world premieres by Keith Bailey, John Craven, James Cross, Kyle Gann, Peter Gilbert, Stanley Grill, Sean Hickey, Jihwan Kim, Carleton Macy, Masashi Mori, Takeshi Ota, and Margarita Zelenaia.

His opera-conducting credits with full orchestra include Peter Grimes, Elektra, Salomé, Ariadne auf Naxos, Vanessa, Venus and Adonis, Cavalleria Rusticana, Dido and Aeneas, Giulio Cesare, Orfeo ed Euridice, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, La Clemenza di Tito, Die Zauberflöte, La Bohéme, Gianni Schicci, Suor Angelica, Carmen, Samson et Dalila, Otello, Aïda, La Traviata, Falstaff, Il Trovatore, Hansel and Gretel, Eugene Onegin, The Merry Widow, West Side Story, and Knossos, a world premiere opera by James Cross.

Hong had the honor of being chosen by Kurt Masur to participate in a series of master classes and conduct in concert with Manhattan School of Music Symphony. In 2005 he made his international recording debut with classical music's largest record label, Naxos, which made the Billboard Classical Chart on its very first week of release -- a rarity in new music. In recent seasons, Hong led One World Symphony to sold-out concerts at New York City's historic Town Hall produced by The Town Hall.

Adrienne Metzinger is a founding member, Graphic Designer and Managing Director of One World Symphony. Ms. Metzinger had the honor of singing our National Anthem to begin New York City’s televised 2003 Veteran’s Day Parade as well as at a ceremony honoring Senator Hillary Clinton held by the United Spinal Association (formerly Eastern Paralyzed Veterans' Association.) She recently performed Berlioz's Les Nuits d´Ètè with One World Symphony in August 2007. In June of 2003, she made her Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut singing the music of Kurt Weill in a benefit concert for the American Red Cross. Her opera credits include Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), Emilia (Otello), Mercedes (Carmen), Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Flora and Annina (La Traviata), Peep-Bo (The Mikado), Countess Ceprano (Rigoletto), Kate (Madama Butterfly), The Sandman/Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), and Kate (Ballad of Baby Doe) as well as Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro). She has also made numerous appearances with One World Symphony as a featured soloist in Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Bach’s Magnificat, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Verdi's Otello, and Handel's Giulio Cesare as well many chamber and opera concerts singing selections by Barber, Verdi, Offenbach, and Weill to name a few. Ms. Metzinger has also performed world premiere works by Kyle Gann (orchestrated by Sung Jin Hong), Joan Dawidziak and — most recently — a piece written for her by New York composer Stan Grill for soprano, harp, and cello based on poems by John McKenzie. Ms. Metzinger is Design Director of Stan Adler Associates in Manhattan. She also designs all posters and marketing materials for One World Symphony.