John Kim is a 19-year-old Korean American violinist from Seoul, South Korea. He started playing the violin at the age of five at Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, which is his hometown. After studying with Jinjoo Jeon at the Seoul Central Conservatory, John is currently a student of Alexander Velinzon from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
John is a 2023 and 2024 National YoungArts Winner and the 1st prize winner of the ENKOR International Music Competition. John is also a prize winner of numerous national competitions in Korea and a winner/scholarship recipient of the Association for Music in International Schools Solo and Ensemble Festival.
John attended Morningside Music Bridge 2023 and 2024 as a full scholarship student and was selected to perform both solo and chamber in the program’s final Highlights Concert (2023) in NEC Jordan Hall. In 2021 and 2022, John attended BU Tanglewood Institute, where he was invited with merit scholarships. Over the years, John participated in masterclasses and had opportunities to study with Midori Goto, Donald Weilerstein, Mauricio Fuks, Ronald Copes, Ani Kavafian, Soovin Kim, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Daniel Stabrawa, Peter Zazofsky, Ian Swensen, Margaret Batjer, William van der Sloot, Agata Szymczewska, Robin Wilson, and more.
John made a successful solo debut in 2022, playing the whole Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Yongin Philharmonic Orchestra at the Seongnam Arts Center Concert Hall. John also performed in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Sejong Arts Center Chamber Hall and served as the concertmaster of the Seoul International School High School Orchestra.
John currently studies Sociology and Economics at Harvard University. While balancing his academic studies, John is actively involved in Harvard’s music community as a member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and chamber music ensembles.
PROGRAM
SEMIFINALS – Shostakovich
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77
Cadenza
IV. Burlesque: Allegro con brio – Presto
FINALS – Sibelius
Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
I. Allegro Moderato
