Dr. MihWa Choi was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea and began playing the piano at the age of 5. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Church Music from Chong Sin University and a Master’s Degree in Organ from the University of Houston. Dr. MiWha began her teaching career in 1996 and has extensive pedagogical experience, particularly in  the Orff program with children as well as with adults. As a graduate student in Korea, she taught group lessons at the Gal Wol Welfare Center. 

Dr. MihWa has performed in churches around the globe, but primarily in Japan and the United States. From 2002 to 2005 she was the Lampas Ensemble’s pianist and had the opportunity to record an album with them. At the University of Texas, where she had a fellowship, she received a Doctorate of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) as an organ major. During her time in Iowa, Dr. Mihwa became a music director at Grace United Methodist Church and continued to perform with the Lampas Ensemble, who later became the IGNIS Ensemble. 

After lots of musical journeying, Dr. Mihwa received her final degree, a Doctorate in Church Music (D.C.M) with a concentration in orchestra from the World Mission University in Los Angeles.  Alongside this she was a music director, organist, and pianist at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ojai, California. 

Dr. Mihwa has done multiple collaborative projects including: working with her sister MiRa who is a professional modern jazz dancer, her professional graphic designer sister Milly Choi Sullivan, as well as her brother-in-law Adam Sullivan who is a songwriter. 

Dr. MiWha has come to appreciate the richness and depth of the traditional western liturgy as expressed in the Lutheran tradition. She finds her inspiration in the classic musicians and authors in that tradition. Like Johann Sabastian Bach, Dr. MiWha believes that church music in worship is Soli Deo Gloria, “to the glory of God” and like Bach, Dr. MiWha is a tireless worker perfecting her skills. Accordingly, MiWha believes whatever is performed in worship should be done to the best of our ability. She desires to research further in the Lutheran tradition and gear her doctoral work in that direction. Her dissertation’s title is “Analysis of the liturgy according to Luther”. She teaches students of any level with full dedication and joy.