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Maria Seo, a native of Korea, is a musician and a scholar. She received an M.A. in piano from Seoul National University where she also studied Korean traditional music. While living in the Northwest, she has been instrumental in introducing the greater Seattle area to Korean traditional music and musicians. Seo, was a ethnomusicologist at the University of Washington, has lectured on Korean music and culture. She has also volunteered countless hours as an advisor on Korean arts and traditions to many community organizations such as the Seattle Asian Art Museum, the Burke Museum, and the Wing Luke Asian Museum.She has encouraged local Korean artists to perform and teach in the community, creating adult classes for traditional music and dance so that Korean-Americans can learn and enjoy the arts of their homeland. Seo is the recipient of the 1997 Washington State Governor's Heritage Award.

- Hye-Jin Chang and Maria Seo, Jackstraw.org