MICHAEL KIM
PIANO
“Kim creates an exciting atmosphere with his dramatically propulsive style and fine sense of pacing.”
- THE WHOLENOTE
PREFERRED CONCERTO LIST
2020–23
Richard Adinsell
Warsaw Concerto
Bach
Concerto BWV 1056, BWV 1058, BWV 1052, BWV 1055
Bartók
Concerto No. 1
Beethoven
All Concerti
Choral Fantasy
Brahms
Concerto No. 1 & No. 2
Chopin
Concerto No. 1 & No. 2
Grande Concerto
Polonaise
Andante Spinato
Debussy
Fantasie
Fauré
Ballade, Op. 19
Franck
Variations Symphoniques
Gershwin
Concerto in F major
Rhapsody in Blue
Grieg
Concerto
Haydn
Concerto in D, Hob XVIII/11
William Jordan*
Concerto for Piano and Strings
Liszt
Concerto No. 1 & No. 2
Totentanz
Malediction
Mendelssohn
Concerto No. 1
Mozart
Concerto K. 271, K. 414, K. 466, K. 467
Poulenc
Aubade for Piano and 18 Instruments
Prokofiev
Concerto No. 2 & No. 3
Rachmaninov
All Concerti
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ravel
Concerto in G Major
Concerto for the Left Hand
Saint-Saëns
Concerto No. 2
"Wedding Cake"
Schumann
Concerto in a minor
Shostakovich
Concerto No. 1 & No. 2
Stravinsky
Concerto for Piano and Winds
Strauss
Burlesque
Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1
*Denotes Canadian composer
Recital repertoire available upon request
Master classes and workshops available
Other concerti available upon request
DISCOGRAPHY
Ballads of Grieg and Chopin
Orpheum Masters KSP840
Live in Recital
(works by Chopin, Stravinsky & Mussorgsky)
Orpheum Masters KSP850
Music of Franz Liszt
Orpheum Masters KSP880
REVIEWS
"Kim was most effective and expressive, he has a big technique and a razor-sharp attack."
- THE BOSTON GLOBE
"Plays with the technical assurance and platform poise of a veteran of the concert circuit."
- THE TORONTO STAR
"Kim’s solo passages presented a fascinating mixture of jauntiness and introspection. This impressive performance received a well-earned standing ovation from the enthusiastic audience."
- THE PRESS-GAZETTE, Green Bay
"It was incredibly exciting and exhilarating, and beautifully balanced."
- THE HERALD, Glasgow
"There was a consistently high level of professionalism and musicality"
- THE GLOBE AND MAIL, Toronto
"Kim’s clear, crisp technique and ability to effortlessly ripple through the brilliant passage work stood him in good stead here, the concerto’s steely moments clearly etched and sharply outlined." [Prokofiev Second Concerto]
- THE CALGARY HERALD
“Kim not so much stole the show as set the joint on fire with his electrifying performance... The standing ovation and audience cheers confirmed that this indeed had been one of those special once-a-season performances.” [Tchaikovsky Concerto]
- THE LEADER-POST, Regina
“Kim creates an exciting atmosphere with his dramatically propulsive style and fine sense of pacing.”
- THE WHOLENOTE
BIOGRAPHY
Prizewinning pianist Dr. Michael Kim has captivated audiences worldwide with his diverse and dynamic performances. A veteran of the international concert stage, Dr. Kim has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras such as the Boston and Cincinnati Pops, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and symphonies across Canada and the U.S., including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Milwaukee. He has collaborated with esteemed conductors like Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Hans Graf, and Jerzy Maksymiuk, as well as pop icons Mitch Miller, Skitch Henderson, and Richard Kaufman.
In addition to his orchestral appearances, Dr. Kim has toured extensively as a solo recitalist throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. His innovative work in Music as Theatre includes acclaimed productions such as The Schumann Letters and Nadia. An avid chamber musician, he frequently performs alongside his wife, pianist Dr. Kyung Kim, and his sister, violinist Helen Kim. His collaborations extend to world-class artists like James Ehnes, Edgar Meyer, James Campbell, and the Bakken Trio, as well as with renowned ensembles including the Canadian Brass and the Cecilia, New Orford, Fine Arts, and New Zealand String Quartets. He has also performed with members of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and legendary clarinetist Martin Fröst. Dr. Kim has graced the stages of prominent music festivals, including Ottawa’s Chamberfest, Festival of the Sound, Aspen, Banff, and Heifetz International. His recordings for Arktos, CRI, Summit, and Orpheum Masters have received critical acclaim.
In academia, Dr. Kim holds a distinguished career as an administrator and educator. Appointed in 2022, Dr. Kim is currently serving as Dean of the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University in London, Ontario. He was previously Director of the School of Music at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Dean of Music and Vice-President External at Brandon University. At Brandon, he successfully led the School of Music while overseeing the university’s advancement programs, including fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, and communications. Earlier, he served as Chair of the Keyboard Department and Faculty Associate to the President at Lawrence University.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, Dr. Kim’s accolades include a silver medal at the 1992 Scottish International Competition, and prizes at the Leeds and Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competitions. He was also the grand prize winner of the Canadian Music and CBC National Radio Competitions.
With a career that spans performance, education, and leadership, Dr. Michael Kim continues to inspire audiences and students alike with his artistry and dedication to music.
November 2024
