John Kim, 18-year-old violinist, is a 2024 and 2023 National YoungArts Winner. He is also the winner and scholarship recipient of the 2022 Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Solo and Ensemble Festival. John received 1st prize in the 2022 Radda Rise International String Competition and 2nd prize in the 2022 American Virtuoso International Music Competition. John was also recognized from various prestigious competitions in Korea, winning 1st prize in the Korea Music Education News Competition and 3rd prize in the Nanpa National Music Competition.
John was invited as a full scholarship student for Morningside Music Bridge 2023 and 2024. He was also given scholarships from BU Tanglewood Institute 2021 and 2022. John has participated in masterclasses with Noah Bendix-Balgley, Ronald Copes, William van der Sloot, Daniel Stabrawa, Lucia Lin, Alexander Velinzon, and Peter Zazofsky. He also had opportunities to study with Midori, Mauricio Fuks, Nikki Chooi, Timothy Chooi, Mimi Zweig, Agata Szymczewska, Tadeusz Gadzina, Mateusz Makuch, Shanshan Yao, Miguel Pérez-Espejo Cardenas, and Klaudia Szlachta.
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. John also performed in the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in June 2023. During Morningside Music Bridge 2023, he was selected to perform both solo and chamber in the New England Conservatory Jordan Hall for the program’s final Highlights Concert. In December 2023, John performed a duet with his teacher for a charity concert for Cambodia at the Sejong Arts Center Chamber Hall.
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 studying at the Daejeon Arts Center’s Music Academy for the musically gifted and the Seoul Baroque Academy. John is a current student at the Seoul Central Conservatory and studies with Professor Jinjoo Jeon. He also served as the concertmaster of the Seoul International School High School Orchestra and High School Strings.
John has been accepted into various institutions: Harvard, Yale, New England Conservatory, and Yale School of Music (BA/MM). He will further his academic studies in Harvard University starting this fall.
