Sangah Noona started taking classical piano lessons with well known piano instructors and professors when she was nine. Sangah studied classical piano until she fell in love with the band Nirvana when she was 16. Sangah made the decision to learn non-classical music while her passion developed in heavy metal music. She spent a lot of time at professional recording studios, concert halls, and music clubs to gain insight into the new music environment. Meanwhile, she studied classical composition for her college admission. At the crossroad, she decided to take the piano performance audition instead of classical composition. She was accepted into Dongduk Women University and the Seoul Institute of the Arts which were nominated for the best school for non-classical music in South Korea. For her entry audition piece, she selected, ‘Master of Puppets’ by Metallica in 2000. She arranged and performed the song on piano, and blew away the judges. Sangah majored jazz piano at Dongduk Women University, and graduated in 2005.

CONCERTS/BROADCASTS

Sangah Noona began her professional career as a piano and keyboard player playing in a concert of one of the best Korean female singers Chun-hwoa Ha in 2004. Since then, Sangah played and toured across the country with numerous concert bands including broadcast bands – MBC, KBS, and SBS until she left Korea. She also performed one of the best live morning shows in Korea ‘Ah-chim Madang’ – Morning Garden- from KBS once a week for about two years.

MUSICALS

Sangah also loves musicals. Her first musical performance was in a Korean musical  ‘Give Me Back My Youth’ in Universal Arts Center, Seoul, in 2004. Sangah also toured with a Korean musical ‘Ah-shee’ – My Lady- (50 members) for one year nationally in 2005. Her next successful performance was in a Broadway musical ‘Camelot’ at the Compass Rose Theater in Annapolis, MD in 2016-2017. She acted as Musical Director and the Solo Accompanist for another Broadway musical, ‘A Chorus Line,’ in 2018, and ‘Man of La Mancha’ in 2019 at the Compass Rose Theater.

HOTEL/EVENT

Sangah’s first paid gig was at age twelve for her relation’s wedding. Afterward she performed at many wedding and party events. Before she graduated from college, she embarked upon her career as a lounge pianist at the Marriott Hotel, Seoul, in 2003. As a result of her excellent work, Sangah received many proposals from other agencies and co-musicians. She performed at Marriot, Hyatt, Hilton, Renaissance, and numerous 4-5 star hotels as a main/guest musician in Korea. Finally, she found a great work environment at the Hilton Hotel, Seoul (Millennium Seoul Hilton). Sangah was a main pianist at the Hilton Hotel from 2005 to 2010 until she left Korea. Sangah was a resident pianist at the Salamander Resort, Middleburg, VA in 2014. Currently, Sangah has been performing as a guest pianist at the Ritz Carlton, Tysons, VA since 2014.

ACCOMPANIST

Sangah is a collaborative pianist at Community College Baltimore County, MD since 2019

FEATURED ARTIST

Columbia Pro Cantare from 2017

Chester River Chorale 2013

Sangah Noona is a born-again Christian. As soon as she was able to accompany the choir and praise team on piano at her church, she began praising God through her playing piano at the age of 10. By age 17, she was nominated to become the main pianist for the church. She has worked in the Music Ministry at the following churches:

A-hyun Methodist Church, Seoul, South Korea 1991-2009 Pianist, keyboardist, bassist, choir director

Victory Christian Fellowship, Seoul, South Korea 2009-2010 Pianist

Killeen Full Gospel Church, Killeen, Texas 2010-2013 Pianist, keyboardist, praise team leader

Community of Grace Church, Catonsville, MD 2014-2019 Pianist, Music director

Sangah Noona has been teaching piano since 2001. She loves to see how her students develop and improve their musical skills. She teaches all levels from beginner to semi-professional. Her favorite students however, are the beginners who have never taken piano lessons. It is the biggest, yet most rewarding challenge for her! Sangah has also had experience in teaching psychiatric disorder patients and the blind for about two years as a volunteer. She believes teaching is learning.

Sangah’s interest in aviation began in 2012. Through her diligence and commitment to learn this completely new trade, her hard work paid off with the completion of her first certification program. Since earning her Private Pilot’s License, she has been hooked, and has devoted her spare time to seeking life-long learning. She is currently certified by the FAA as an instrument-rated single-engine airplane land COMMERCIAL PILOT! Also has an Associate degree in Professional Pilot! She flies at the Navy Annapolis Flying Club in Annapolis, MD.