Born in Seoul, Korea, oboist Na-Young Kwak is currently the principal oboist of the Wonju Philharmonic Orchestra in Korea. She studied at the Yon-Sei University in Korea and after came to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the New England Conservatory with Keisuke Wakao. She completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Maryland at College Park. Kwak has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the North Czech Philharmony, Wonju Philharmonic Orchestra, KT Chamber Orchestra, Cosmos Club Chamber Orchestra in Washington D.C., the Korean Symphony Orchestra. Her numerous awards include top prizes at the Busan Music Competition, the Ulrich Competition of the University of Maryland and the state winner of MTNA Competition. She also has won the Artist International New York Debut Audition, and had a recital at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Ms. Kwak is a member of Koreana Chamber Music Society and The Piri Oboe Ensemble. She has performed regularly with the KT Chamber Ensemble, also has participated in the National Orchestral Institute Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival as a woodwind fellow. She previously served as the principal oboist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and as a substitute member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony.
She is on faculty at Ewha Womans University, Chung-ang University and University of Seoul, Yewon and Sun-Wha Arts School, and Seoul Arts High School.