Jonah Kim: Cello Masterclass

GRAMMY®-winning artist Jonah Kim made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2003. Kim has since performed on the world’s most prestigious stages.

As a highly sought-after chamber musician Jonah Kim has collaborated with Van Cliburn Competition winner Jon Nakamatsu, Elmar Oliveira, Chee-Yun Kim, Yuja Wang, and leading members of world-class ensembles such as Orpheus, New Century and the Guarneri and Tokyo quartets.

Kim pairs his 1845 J.B. Vuillaume cello with a bow made in 1904 by Jules Fétique Paris. Look for his August 2020 album release of Rachmaninoff and Barber cello sonatas on Delos, the great American label.

Bio © Naxos Music Group 2020

Photo © Grace Song Photography 2020

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Long Bio:

Grammy winning artist Jonah Kim made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2003. The same year, he also appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra where the Washington Post music critic Joseph McLellan called him simply, “the next Yo-Yo Ma.” Mr. Kim has soloed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, New Philharmonia, Orquestra Sinfônica Nacional, Orchestra Filarmonica, Symphony of the Americas and many others.

Highly sought after internationally also as a chamber musician, Mr. Kim is a founding member of the “hip, unstuffy, and malleable group” Ensemble San Francisco. Kong Arts Festival, Music in May Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo’s Festival Mozaic. As a fellow at the Curtis Institute, he formed a piano trio with Joel Link, currently first violinist of the award-winning Dover Quartet, and international piano sensation Yuja Wang.

Born in Seoul, Korea, Mr. Kim immigrated to the United States in 1995. His father possessed a keen ear for music despite no formal musical training and introduced him to the cello through VHS tapes of Pablo Casals playing the Bach’s Solo Cello Suites. Learning by imitation, the seven-year old was awarded a full scholarship to the Juilliard School within the year. So began his professional training at Juilliard, but it was not until he met world renowned soloist and pedagogue Janos Starker the following summer that he became certain music was his calling. Attending a New York City public school, learning to speak English, and adjusting to life in the United States was not always easy. Starker’s invitation to come study with him was pivotal, inspiring the young cellist to continue with renewed motivation. Starker later remarked, “Jonah is an exceptional talent. He is at the top of his generation.”

Mr. Kim was awarded full scholarships and graduated with top marks at only seventeen years of age from two of the most prestigious conservatories, The Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, regarded as two of the most exclusive educational institutions in the world. His biggest musical influences include Janos Starker, Mstislav Rostropovich and Yo-Yo Ma. He has also studied with cellists Peter Wiley, Orlando Cole, David Soyer, Joel Krosnick, Aldo Parisot, Lynn Harrell, violinists Jaime Laredo, Aaron Rosand, Joseph Silverstein, Arnold Steinhardt, and pianists Leon Fleisher, Gary Graffman, Seymour Lipkin, Claude Frank and Edward Aldwell.

Mr. Kim is the recipient of two Grammy Awards and records across a spectrum of genres. He is also active in the community, dedicated to sharing music and reaching out in ways that positively impact and heal people in need, bringing music to veterans, ailing patients and children of low income families. As a teacher, his students have been awarded scholarships to universities and conservatories in the U.S. and Europe. His masterclasses have been described as “captivating and hilarious… relevant to not only musicians, resonating with all walks of life.” Between performances, he shares his knowledge with young talent from over 30 countries at Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Camp.