Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

South Korea

Birth

:

1957 in Inchon, Korea

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Jin Hi Kim is a Korean-American composer and performer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born in 1957 in Incheon, South Korea, Kim began her musical journey at a young age, studying traditional Korean music and instruments such as the gayageum and the geomungo. She later went on to study Western classical music at the Seoul National University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. In 1980, Kim moved to the United States to pursue further studies in music. She enrolled at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied composition with Malcolm Peyton and improvisation with Ran Blake. During this time, Kim also began to explore the possibilities of combining traditional Korean music with contemporary Western music, a fusion that would become a hallmark of her work. Kim's breakthrough came in 1984, when she premiered her composition "Living Tones" at the New Music America Festival in Houston, Texas. The piece, which featured Kim on the gayageum and electronics, was a groundbreaking exploration of the possibilities of live electronic music and improvisation. It received critical acclaim and established Kim as a leading figure in the world of experimental music. Over the years, Kim has continued to push the boundaries of classical music, incorporating elements of jazz, rock, and world music into her compositions. She has collaborated with a wide range of musicians and artists, including the Kronos Quartet, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the choreographer Bill T. Jones. One of Kim's most notable works is "Electric Komungo," a composition for the geomungo (a traditional Korean stringed instrument) and electronics. The piece, which premiered in 1992, features Kim playing the geomungo with a variety of electronic effects and processing, creating a unique and otherworldly sound. "Electric Komungo" has been performed around the world and has received numerous awards and accolades. In addition to her work as a composer, Kim is also an accomplished performer. She has performed at major venues and festivals around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. She has also been a featured soloist with many orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Seoul Philharmonic. Kim's contributions to classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1995, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for music composition. She has also received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Asian Cultural Council. In addition to her work in music, Kim is also a dedicated educator. She has taught at a number of institutions, including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has also conducted workshops and masterclasses around the world, sharing her knowledge and expertise with aspiring musicians and composers. Today, Jin Hi Kim continues to be a leading figure in the world of classical music. Her innovative compositions and performances have inspired countless musicians and audiences around the world, and her legacy will continue to shape the future of music for generations to come.

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