Hannah Cho is one of 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars for 2025, one of the nation’s highest honors for academic achievement, leadership, and service. She is currently a freshman at MIT,  where she is studying Course 20: Biological Engineering. As a participant in MIT’s Emerson/Harris Program (E/HP), she continues her oboe studies with John Ferrillo at the New England Conservatory. She also serves as a principal oboist of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, furthering her musical artistry alongside her academic pursuits.

A graduate of the Colburn Music Academy, Hannah was the recipient of both the full merit-based Thibaudet Scholarship and the Provost Fund. She was awarded the 2024 Gold Medal in the Annual Young Artist Competition of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA and performed the Kalliwoda Oboe Concertino with the orchestra in January 2025. She was also named a National YoungArts Finalist (now “Winner with Distinction”) and participated in National YoungArts Week in Miami in January 2023. Hannah won first place in the U.S. Navy Band Young Artist Solo Competition, performing the Marcello Oboe Concerto with the U.S. Navy Band in May 2023. She went on to place second in the 2023–2024 MTNA National Final Round, having previously won both the California MTNA (October 2023) and the Southwest Division MTNA across six states (January 2024). She also earned second place in the 2023 U.S. Army Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

As a chamber musician, soloist, and orchestral performer, Hannah has appeared with NYO2 (2022 and 2024) and served as Principal Oboe of the 2022 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra. She has performed in distinguished venues such as Carnegie Hall, New World Center, Merkin Hall, and the Nixon Library. In summer 2025, she joined NYO-USA for its international tour across Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Japan, further showcasing her artistry on the global stage.

Hannah’s oboe studies have been shaped by a distinguished roster of teachers, including current teacher John Ferrillo, former teachers Eugene Izotov, Ted Sugata, Victoria Lee, and Katherine Needleman (on scholarship). She has participated in masterclasses with leading figures including Philippe Tondre, Juilliard faculty, and MET Opera Co-Principals Nathan Hughes and Elaine Douvas.

Beyond music, Hannah is passionate about environmental advocacy. She authored Earth Guardian: 10 Fun Ways to Help Save the Planet and has led creative workshops that empower youth to make music with recycled materials. She also co-founded HARIN, a sustainability initiative that reimagines waste as a resource by transforming denim into everyday items.

Outside of her academic and musical commitments, Hannah enjoys running, hiking, baking, reading Asian-authored literature, visiting museums, traveling, exploring new coffee and tea shops, and listening to both classical and popular music.