Ji Hyun Kim

Ji Hyun Kim, D. M. A. (she/her)
[Hear my name]

Dr. Ji Hyun Kim is a highly sought-after soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, educator, and music director. Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand and Australia, she now residing in the United States, Ji Hyun’s multicultural background has significantly shaped her dynamic and diverse musical career.

Ji Hyun received a Bachelor of Music Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australia, and completed her Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at Michigan State University, with cognate studies in Contemporary Art Music, Viola Performance, and Music Therapy. She has also closely collaborated with and performed alongside esteemed violinists, conductors, and educators, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jonna Arthur, Kolja Blacher, Wolfram Christ, Youngwoo Chun, Yuri Gandelsman, Richard Gill, Raphael Jimenéz, Christopher Kimber, Jin-Kyoung Lee, Mary O’Brien, Imre Palló, Walter Verdehr, and Wanda Wilkomirska.

As an acclaimed violinist, Ji Hyun has made numerous media appearances worldwide and performed in major cities, including South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Luxembourg, Austria, and the United States. Her live and recorded performances have been featured on New Zealand’s TV3 National News, Australia’s ABC Classic FM, SBS Korean Radio, and Michigan’s WKAR and WILX broadcasts. Ji Hyun’s exceptional musicality has been recognized through her achievements in both national and international competitions, including those hosted by Chamber Music New Zealand, the International Grieg Society, and the International Golden Classical Music Awards.

Ji Hyun also served as concertmaster and principal violinist for several ensembles and orchestras, including Ad Libitum, Musique 21, Sydney Sinfonia, Vianden Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Varna International Music Academy Festival Orchestra, Society of International Music Artists Orchestra, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra.

Ji Hyun is the Director of Orchestra and String Studies and an Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Albion College. As a dedicated educator, she has made significant contributions on campus and within the broader musical community. Her expertise is widely sought after, leading her to travel both nationally and internationally to present lecture recitals, conference sessions, and master classes, as well as to lead chamber and orchestral clinics. Ji Hyun’s commitment to music education extends to her roles as an adjudicator and string clinician. She has served on adjudicating panels for numerous prestigious events, including the ENKOR International Competition, the American String Teachers Association Certificate Advancement Program (ASTACAP), and the Michigan Schools Band & Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Festivals. Additionally, she has judged the Oakland Youth Orchestras Concerto Competition, the Michigan ArtWorks Competition, the LSO Young Artist Competition, the Don Heckinlively Music Performance Competition, and national string auditions for the Lansing and Jackson Symphony Orchestras. As a pre-festival clinician and early-career teacher mentor, Ji Hyun regularly visits schools across Michigan to work with orchestra programs.

Ji Hyun is also the founder, artistic director, and violinist of the ConTempus Initiative. This Michigan-based contemporary music collective is dedicated to offering more creative and collaborative performances of compositions by living composers and overlooked female composers to engage with today’s audiences. Committed to fostering meaningful relationships among composers, performers, and audiences through new music that is relatable and accessible, Ji Hyun and the ConTempus ensembles have premiered and recorded numerous works by both professional and student composers in unconventional and inclusive settings. They have collaborated with contemporary jazz and world music artists and presented interdisciplinary concert programs that enrich the community, featuring various artists, chefs, storytellers, and dancers. Notable performances include collaborations with the Detroit Institute of Arts, Artlab J Dance Company, Michigan State University, Spring Arbor University, Albion College, State University of New York – Potsdam, Flint Institute of Music, City of East Lansing, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Big Rapids Festival of the Arts, and many others.

As an advocate for “cultivating a culture of belonging through embracing our differences,” Ji Hyun continues her efforts to program a diverse and inclusive repertoire, promote a respectful and positive learning and performing environment, and foster a broader understanding of the ever-expanding collaborative and entrepreneurial opportunities in the music profession.