A member of the Lawrence University Conservatory faculty since 1996, Canadian pianist Michael Kim continues to receive acclaim for his performances throughout Canada, and more recently, in the U.S. and South America.
A veteran concerto soloist, recent appearances have been with the Boston and Cincinnati Pops, and with the symphonies of Toronto, Vancouver, London, Edmonton, Victoria, Nanamio, Regina, Saskatoon, Florida, Florence, Fox Valley, Oklahoma City, Waukesha, Green Bay, and Milwaukee, among others. He has toured Peru with Orchestra Sinfonica de Trujillo, and has toured the U.K. with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony, performances that were broadcast on BBC radio and television.
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Dr. Kim has appeared in every major Canadian city, and throughout the U.S., U.K., South America, and Asia, frequently collaborating with wife pianist Kyungran Kim, and sister violinist Helen Kim. He has also been a featured artist at the summer festivals of Brevard, Aspen, Banff, Huntsville, Heifetz (Annapolis, MD), and Niagara, and his performances are frequently broadcast on the radio networks of CBC, BBC, NPR, KBS, and Chicago WFMT's Live From Studio One. He also tours for the Canadian based Piano Six, and is a popular adjudicator and master class clinician.
Born in Quebec City, Dr. Kim began piano studies at age 11, and by 15, had made his debut with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. A graduate of the Academy of Music at Mount Royal College (Calgary, AB) where he studied with Arpad Joo, he completed undergraduate studies at the University of Calgary under Marilyn Engle. Other studies have been with Robin Wood at the University of Victoria, Jerome Lowenthal at the Music Academy of the West, and summer sessions at the Banff School of Fine Arts. Dr. Kim received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Juilliard School, where he held the Vladimir Horowitz scholarship studying with Herbert Stessin, and was teaching assistant to David Dubal.
A recipient of countless awards, he was silver medallist in the 1992 Scottish International Competition in Glasgow, and a prize winner in the Leeds and Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competitions. Grand prizewinner of the Canadian Music and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation National Radio Competition, Dr. Kim was awarded many Arts Study, Project, and Touring Office grants from the Canada Council and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. In 1994, he was recipient of Canada Council's prestigious Career Development award.
Dr. Kim can be heard on recordings for the CRI and Summit labels. He records for Orpheum Masters in Vancouver, who will be releasing two new recordings of his in November 2001, featuring the Ballades of Grieg and Chopin, and a live recital from Lawrence University.