Benjamin Kim
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Benjamin "Ben" Kim is an American
pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...
, who won the 55th
ARD International Music Competition The ARD International Music Competition () is the largest international classical music competition in Germany. It is organised by the Bayerischer Rundfunk and is held once a year in Munich, usually in September. Since its inception in 1952, it h ...
in Munich, September 2006 (First prize).


Biography

"Kim, who was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, began studying piano at the age of five with Dorothy Fahlman." At the age of eight, he performed his first public solo recital and his orchestral debut at twelve. At age 20, he finished an accelerated Bachelor of Music degree program at the
Peabody Conservatory The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a private music and dance conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1857, it became affiliated with Johns Hopkins in 1977. History Philanthropist and ...
as a student of
Leon Fleisher Leon Fleisher (July 23, 1928 – August 2, 2020) was an American classical pianist, conductor and pedagogue. He was one of the most renowned pianists and pedagogues in the world. Music correspondent Elijah Ho called him "one of the most re ...
. He continued his studies at Peabody with Leon Fleisher together with Yong Hi Moon as a candidate for the Artist Diploma program. In addition, Ben was selected to attend the
International Piano Academy Lake Como The International Piano Academy Lake Como is a piano academy. Administration *President of Honor: Martha Argerich *President and Artistic Director: William Grant Naboré William Grant Naboré is an American pianist and pedagogue, born in Roanoke, ...
in Italy, a program for seven pianists, headed by Martha Argerich and William Grant Naboré. He finished his studies at the
Universität der Künste Berlin The Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK; also known in English as the Berlin University of the Arts), situated in Berlin, Germany, is the second largest art school in Europe. It is a public art and design school, and one of the four research uni ...
(UDK Berlin) with
Klaus Hellwig Klaus Hellwig (born 3 August 1941) is a German pianist and academic teacher. Life and career Born in Essen,Axel Schniederjürgen (publisher): ''Kürschners Musiker-Handbuch''. 5th edition de Gruyter, 2006, Hellwig studied with Detlef Kraus in ...
He made his debut at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall with the Olympus Chamber Players in 2009 and at Suntory Hall in Tokyo in 2010. Kim has been presented in major halls throughout the world, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio, German Radio, Baltimore, Seoul Philharmonic, and St Petersburg Hermitage State Symphonies. His performances have been broadcast on radio and television on all continents, including
National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
's
classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
show ''
From the Top From the Top is an independent nonprofit organization known best for its longstanding NPR radio and PBS television programs with the same name. Co-founded by Gerald Slavet and Jennifer Hurley-Wales in 1995, the organization showcases and devel ...
'' and NPO4 in Holland.


Awards

In September 2006, Kim won First Prize in the 55th
ARD International Music Competition The ARD International Music Competition () is the largest international classical music competition in Germany. It is organised by the Bayerischer Rundfunk and is held once a year in Munich, usually in September. Since its inception in 1952, it h ...
in Munich. In 2012, Kim was one of six recipients selected among a pool of more than 13,000 graduates at the
Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...
to be awarded an Outstanding Recent Graduate Award for outstanding achievement or service in any professional field. Kim was the recipient of the Rheingau Music Festival's 2017 LOTTO Career Development Prize. The international jury panel made its decision upon the following stated reasons: "His brilliant technique and his incredible flair for interpretive refinement are self-evident....an exceptional phenomenon among pianists his generation - such a natural, sympathetic charisma and pleasant modesty, coupled with great virtuosity, are rarely experienced with a leading musician.”


Comments on Kim

* “In a music business not exactly lacking in pianists, Ben Kim belongs to that small group whose playing extends beyond brilliant keyboard magic and pleasing, beautiful sound. More so, Kim is a narrator who knows how to captivate his audience from first to last note," noted the Berliner Morgenpost. *Legendary teacher and mentor
Leon Fleisher Leon Fleisher (July 23, 1928 – August 2, 2020) was an American classical pianist, conductor and pedagogue. He was one of the most renowned pianists and pedagogues in the world. Music correspondent Elijah Ho called him "one of the most re ...
exalted Kim for his "enormous potential for a first-class career." * His performance of
Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, often set within studied ye ...
's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor in
Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
, ''
The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news. Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publi ...
'' reported, "Sparks were flying from the keyboard" with "power, precision, and feeling for the daunting score."


Recordings

Works for solo piano by Chopin, Mozart and Debussy * Chopin Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35 "Funeral march" * Mozart Sonata in E-flat Major, K. 282 (189g) * Mozart Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K. 280 (189e) * Debussy Suite Bergamasque Sony USA, Sony BMG Korea,
Sony Music Japan , often abbreviated as SMEJ or simply SME, and also known as Sony Music Japan for short (stylized as ''SonyMusic''), is a Japanese music arm for Sony. Founded in 1968 as CBS/Sony, SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Group Corporation and is opera ...
International Inc.(Sony CLASSICAL) Chopin Préludes and Impromptus Decca,
Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...
Kim's recording was given an Editor's recommendation in November 2012 from the Japanese Record Geijutsu Magazine, stating, "without nervousness or over-excitement, without boasting technique or exaggeration, Kim plays Chopin's music as if he were breathing it." Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 17 and 23 * Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453 * Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488 Recorded with
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (, ) is a Dutch symphony orchestra, established in 1888 at the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw (concert hall). It is considered one of the world's leading orchestras. It was known as the Concertgebouw Orchestra un ...
Challenge Records


References


External links


KIM Profile

Fansite Korea



Sony Music Online Japan Official site
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20050414100730/http://www.fromthetop.org/radio/performers.cfm?pid=369 Fromthetop.org: Young Performers: Benjamin Kimbr>International Piano E-Competition 2004
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Benjamin 1983 births 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century American classical pianists American male classical pianists Lake Oswego High School alumni Living people