Hyun Mi Kim

Hyun Mi Kim is a violinist with a broad repertoire encompassing solo, chamber, and contemporary music, consistently seeking to expand her artistic expression through new works and collaboration. Recognized for her refined musical intelligence and deeply personal interpretations, she has established herself as one of the most distinguished figures in the classical music landscape.
Early in her career following her studies in New York, she found her foundational musical inspiration performing extensively as a member of the Brandenburg Ensemble under Alexander Schneider and the Schneider Concerts. During this formative period, her musicianship was profoundly enriched through close artistic exchange with the legendary Felix Galimir. Her international presence was further solidified as a laureate of the Washington International Competition and through appearances at world-renowned festivals such as the Marlboro Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Euro Music Festival, and the Kirishima International Music Festival. She also toured the United States with Musicians from Marlboro, performing at hallowed venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kennedy Center.
Upon her return to Korea, she became an integral part of the nation’s musical life, earning deep respect as a versatile soloist and a dedicated advocate for chamber music. She has maintained a prolific career as a soloist, performing with leading orchestras such as the KBS Symphony Orchestra and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. Her active performance schedule has included major events such as the 11 o’Clock Concert at the Seoul Arts Center, the EBS Anniversary Music Festival, and a historic performance at the 1998 Isang Yun Music Festival in Pyongyang.
As a devoted chamber musician, she co-founded Quartet 21 in 1991, serving as its first violinist. Under her leadership, the ensemble has presented complete cycles of the Beethoven and Bartók string quartets and performed at major festivals worldwide, including the Isang Yun Memorial Concert in Berlin and cultural exchange tours across South Asia. For her contributions to the arts, she has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Presidential Award at the Korea Arts and Culture Awards, the Artist of the Year Award (Chamber Music) from the Arts Council Korea, the Performance Award at the Daewon Music Awards, and the Dong-A Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo competitions.
A dedicated and influential educator, she has shared her expertise globally, serving as a faculty coach for The Quartet Program in the United States. She has conducted masterclasses at premier institutions worldwide, including the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Mannes School of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the Tianjin Juilliard School. Additionally, she serves as a mentor for the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation’s OnDream Ensemble.
Her extensive discography includes solo and chamber albums for the KBS Korean Performers Series and the complete Suzuki Violin Method CD collection. Her latest artistic milestone is the 2024–2025 release of a four-CD complete cycle of Beethoven’s violin sonatas and violin works, titled Inspiration, Reflection, and Illumination. Currently, she is a Professor of Violin at the Korea National University of Arts, Music Director of the Koreana Chamber Music Society, and leads the chamber ensemble Ad Musica, where she continues to collaborate with outstanding young musicians. She performs on a 1617 Hieronymus Amati violin.