Emerging Voices: Minjin Kim in Recital

Artist Bio

Minjin Kim — Pianist

Known for her refined artistry, South Korean pianist Minjin Kim has performed across the
United States, Europe, and Asia, captivating audiences worldwide. Her playing has been praised
for “a depth reminiscent of an old German soul,” conveying clarity and warmth with polished
technique and poetic imagination.

Since her first recital at age eight and her orchestral debut at thirteen in Seoul, Ms. Kim has gained international recognition, receiving top prizes at renowned competitions such as the Ben I. Gomez and Thomas F. Hulbert competitions. Furthermore, she was named a finalist or received honorable mention in the Jacob Filer, Lewisville Lake Symphony International, and Chicago International Music competitions, and she was also awarded a merit diploma at the Lyon Competition for her outstanding performance.

As a rising artist, Ms. Kim has frequently been invited to perform at prestigious international music festivals. Her interpretations across diverse styles have impressed audiences at festivals such as the Texas State International Piano Festival, New Paltz Piano Summer, the International Scriabin 150 Festival, Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival, Brescia Talent Summer Courses Festival, Illinois Summer Piano Institute, and White Nights International Piano Festival. She has also performed in numerous recitals and concerts at distinguished venues worldwide, including the Seoul Arts Center, Ewon Cultural Center, Youngsan Arts Hall, the General Culture Center at Seoul National University of Education, Mapo Art Center, Darl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall, Max and Nadia Shepard Recital Hall, Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall, Hilda and Douglas Goodwin Recital Hall, and Leith Symington Griswold Hall, among others.

Beyond her solo career, Ms. Kim is a dedicated chamber musician and collaborative pianist. She has performed chamber recitals with instrumentalists, particularly strings, and her expressive ensemble playing was recognized when she was selected to perform Schumann’s Piano Quintet in the Friday Noon:30 Chamber Series. While serving as a Graduate Assistant in Accompanying, she received the Clara Ascherfeld Award for excellence in collaboration. Ms. Kim is also committed to performing chamber works by living composers, including Yeeun Sim’s piano trio, and participated in the "Studio 2021" project at Seoul National University, where she premiered contemporary chamber music.

Now pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree on a full scholarship at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Kim is focusing her research on German and Russian composers. In her recent paper, "Evolutionary Compositional Stages in Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 110 in A-flat Major," she examines Beethoven’s sketches to analyze the historical and compositional context of the work—a study that has been recognized for its scholarly insight and has further deepened her interpretive approach to performance. Additionally, as an educator, she will serve as a Teaching Associate at Peabody Preparatory under Dr. Hyun-Sook Park starting in the fall of 2025.

Ms. Kim has had the privilege of working with many acclaimed pianists in masterclasses, including the late Phillip Kawin, Richard Goode, Pascal Rogé, Hae Sun Paik, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Alexander Korsantia, Gilead Mishory, Alexander Kobrin, Vladimir Stoupel, and Anatole Leikin. Her educational background includes the Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School, and she earned a cum laude bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University under the guidance of Professor HieYon Choi. She also completed her Master of Music degree at the Peabody Conservatory, where she continues her doctoral studies with Dr. Steven Spooner.

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Blanco Performing Arts is proud to feature her in our Young Artist Series, continuing our commitment to supporting arts in the Texas Hill Country and uplifting the Texas State University School of Music through this annual collaboration.