B i o g r a p h y
Kim "gave the audience a rich sampling of his versatility. Kim has an expressive temperament: his playing is irresistibly dynamic and colorful. The [program] revealed Kim's sure ear, clean articulation, and maturity of interpretation." CASA Magazine
Violinist, Han Soo Kim is an award-winning and internationally accomplished artist who has performed to critical acclaim in numerous countries on four continents. He has been praised by many audiences around the world for his passion, sensitivity and charisma. His playing is described as a "musical gift of rare beauty" The Korea Times. His knowledge and versatility allow him to perform a diverse mix of musical styles ranging from the standard works to avant-garde contemporary repertoire.
Dr. Kim has concertized extensively as solo performer, duo-recitalist and chamber musician. In the United States, he has performed in some of the nation’s most prominent venues including Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Civic Arts Plaza, Weill Recital Hall and Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Cutler Majestic Theater, Hahn Hall, Jordan Hall, Kaufmann Concert Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Staller Center. Performances have also led him to institutions and festivals including Académie Internationale de Courchevel, Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Columbia University, Le Domaine Forget International Music Festival, The Juilliard School, Longy School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College, Meadowmount School of Music, Morningside Music Bridge, Musicorda, Music Academy of the West, New England Conservatory, Rutgers University, Stony Brook University, and Yale University. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras in the US and abroad performing standard concertos to contemporary world premieres.
As a Promessa Records Artist he has released Encore Favori, a solo CD featuring a dozen encores and virtuosic showpieces, and will be recording the next album in 2021. He is Founder and the violinist of The Finehouse-Kim-Yhee Trio.
His passion for sharing musical knowledge and experience to young musicians has taken him to many different parts of the world. As an avid educator, he has given lectures, workshops and masterclasses nationally and internationally on technique, innovative practice methods and performance. He devotes a considerable amount of time to traveling for clinics as well as maintaining an internationally active recording and performance schedule. At Westmont College, he is Head of Strings and teaches alongside his wife, Joanne Kim, a clarinetist. He is Founder and Director of Westmont Academy for Young Artists and is on the faculty at Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara and InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy. He has served as Chair of Adjudicators of the New York International Music Competition and is currently the string adjudicator for Santa Barbara Music Club Scholarship Awards.
Dr. Kim has earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in violin performance under a fellowship grant. His Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in violin performance are from The Juilliard School where he was a merit scholarship recipient. His influential teachers and mentors include Roman Totenberg, Sally Thomas and Pamela Frank. He has worked with distinguished chamber music artists including Emerson, Guarneri, Juilliard, and Orion String Quartets.
He is a Bella Rosins Artist and performs on a Carlo Antonio Testore of 1721.
His CDs can be purchased at the Westmont College bookstore and hanjoannekim.com.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, son Kian and dog Dolce, exploring restaurants in Santa Barbara, and gardening.
Clarinetist, Joanne Kim, has concertized as solo performer and chamber and orchestral musician in many parts of North America and Asia. Her performing career began in her late teens with the honorable Stamas Scholarship Fund from the New York Philharmonic offering her a new clarinet for her studies and concerts.
She has performed with New York Soloist Ensemble, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Korean Chamber Orchestra, Astoria Symphony, New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra, Chelsea Symphony, and the Santa Barbara Symphony.
Concerts have led her to renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Symphony Space, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Massey Hall, Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Roy Thompson Hall, Merkin Hall, and Granada Theatre. She has also performed at colleges, conservatories and festivals including Royal Conservatory of Music, Mannes College, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, Queens College, Hunter College, Wilfred Laurier University, University of Western Ontario, Ball State University, New School University, Long Island University, Late Romantics Festival, Waterloo Windfest, and Centre d'arts Orford.
Dr. Kim has earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in clarinet performance at Manhattan School of Music with a fellowship under the tutelage of Mark Nuccio. Her Bachelor of Music is from Mannes College, and Master of Music degree with merit scholarship in the prestigious Orchestral Performance Program is from Manhattan School of Music.
As a passionate educator, Dr. Kim travels to give lectures and classes while maintaining an active performance schedule. She performs with her husband, Han Soo Kim, a violinist, and is a member of the Sonos5winds, the wind quintet-in-residence at Westmont College.
Dr. Kim is on the faculty at Westmont College, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont Academy for Young Artists, and InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy.