John Kim, 17-year-old violinist, was recently selected as the 2023 National YoungArts Winner in Classical Music/Violin. He was also the winner and scholarship recipient of the 2022 Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Online Solo and Ensemble Festival. John has received first prize in the 2022 Radda Rise International String Competition and second prize in the 2022 American Virtuoso International Music Competition. In 2021, he received the Gold Prize and the Fantastic Technique Special Prize in the London Young Musician International Music Competition Series. John was also recognized as a young artist through various prestigious competitions in Korea, winning 1st prize in the Korea Music Education News Competition and 3rd prize in the Nanpa National Music Competition.
Furthermore, John was invited as a full scholarship student for Morningside Music Bridge 2023, as well as being given scholarships from Boston University Tanglewood Institute 2021 and 2022. Throughout three summers, John has participated in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed violinists and professors: Noah Bendix-Balgley, Ronald Copes, William van der Sloot, Daniel Stabrawa, Lucia Lin, Alexander Velinzon, and Peter Zazofsky. John has also had the opportunity to study with Midori, Mauricio Fuks, Nikki Chooi, Timothy Chooi, Mimi Zweig, Agata Szymczewska, Tadeusz Gadzina, Mateusz Makuch, Shanshan Yao, Klaudia Szlachta, Miguel Pérez-Espejo Cardenas, Hsin-Lin Tsai, and Ani Kavafian.
As an active soloist, John has performed in various renowned venues including the Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall in 2023. In April of 2022, John made a successful solo debut, performing the entire Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Yongin Philharmonic Orchestra at the Seongnam Arts Center Concert Hall. Recently, he was honorably selected to perform twice at the New England Conservatory Jordan Hall, playing both as a soloist and also a chamber musician in the Highlights Concert of Morningside Music Bridge 2023.
John began studying the violin at the age of 4 at the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, which is his hometown. After moving to South Korea, John continued to pursue his passion for music at the Daejeon Arts Center’s Music Academy for the musically gifted and the Seoul Baroque Academy. Currently, he is a student at the Seoul Central Conservatory under the instruction of Professor Jinjoo Jeon. Additionally, John attends Seoul International School, where he is currently the concertmaster of the SIS High School Orchestra and High School Strings Ensemble.
