James Yoonil Auh, Ed.D.

James Yoonil Auh is a violinist, educator, and theorist whose work bridges technology, art, ethics, and systems thinking. Discovered in Korea by the late Isaac Stern, he was introduced to the legendary Dorothy DeLay at age eleven and studied under her at The Juilliard School for fourteen formative years. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1978 and appeared at Avery Fisher Hall the following year, launching an international career marked by artistic depth and interpretive distinction.

Following his performance career, Dr. Auh turned toward education and institutional leadership. He has served as Vice President and Dean at universities in both the United States and Korea, designing interdisciplinary programs that integrate technology, music, and social innovation. His leadership extends to international development and cultural diplomacy through collaborations with KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), SK Hynix, Kyobo Life Ltd., and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), with work spanning Korea, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Tanzania, and Southeast Asia.

He is the founder of Harmony Nation Music Education and the Virtual Music Conservatory (VMC) for Myanmar—initiatives that have pioneered inclusive and trauma-informed music programs for communities experiencing inequality, displacement, and political crisis. Through low-bandwidth digital platforms, community-led ensembles, and cross-border teaching networks, he helped establish “conservatories in exile” for students whose institutions had collapsed, providing sustained musical instruction, psychosocial support, and civic connection to learners navigating conflict and educational disruption.

Dr. Auh earned his B.M. and M.M. from The Juilliard School and completed his M.A., M.Ed., and Ed.D. in Computing and Instructional Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. He has held faculty appointments at New York University, Central Michigan University, and Seoul National University. He currently serves as Professor and Department Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity at Kyung Hee Cyber University in Seoul and teaches in the Master of Arts in Community Music program at Judson University.