Benjamin Kim
| Benjamin Kim | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Ben Kim |
| Born |
1983 (age 32–33) Portland, Oregon, USA |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Labels | Sony Music Entertainment |
Benjamin "Ben" Kim (born 1983) is an American pianist, who won the 55th ARD International Music Competition in Munich, September 2006 (First prize).[1]
Kim started studying the piano at age five with the famed Oregonian piano teacher, Dorothy Fahlman.[2] At the age of eight, he performed his first public solo recital and his orchestral debut at twelve. He has featured on National Public Radio's classical music show From the Top. In 2004, he finished an accelerated Bachelor of Music degree program at the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Leon Fleisher. He studied in the Leipzig Sommer Akademie with Bruce Brubaker. He has been continuing his studies at Peabody with Leon Fleisher with pianist and teacher Yong Hi Moon as a candidate for the Artist Diploma program which is the school's highest distinction. Also, he is currently attending the Universität der Künste Berlin (UDK Berlin) and selected to attend International Piano Academy Lake Como in Italy.[2]
Awards
In September 2006, Kim won First Prize in the 55th ARD International Music Competition in Munich.[1]
He has garnered top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Grand Prize in the 2000 World Piano Competition Young Artist Division and most recently, First Place in the 2004 Yale Gordon Piano Competition at the Peabody Conservatory. Furthermore, he has won the highest prizes in the Mary Graham Lasley Competition in Virginia, the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition in Colorado, the Philharmonic Society of Arlington Young Artist Competition in Massachusetts, and the MTNA National Baldwin Piano Competition.
Comments on Kim
- Even legendary teacher and mentor Leon Fleisher exalted Kim for his "enormous potential for a first-class career."[3]
- After his performance of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor in Baltimore USA, the Baltimore Sun reported, "Sparks were flying from the keyboard" with "power, precision, and feeling for the daunting score."[3]
Recordings
Works for solo piano by Chopin, Mozart and Debussy
Chopin:
- Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35 "Funeral march" I. Grave
- Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35 "Funeral march" II. Scherzo
- Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35 "Funeral march" III. Marche funebre:Lento
- Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35 "Funeral march" IV. Finale:Presto
Mozart:
- Sonata in E-flat Major, K.282(189g) I. Adagio
- Sonata in E-flat Major, K.282(189g) II. Menuetto I&II
- Sonata in E-flat Major, K.282(189g) III. Allegro
- Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K.280(189e) I. Allegro assai
- Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K.280(189e) II. Adagio
- Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K.280(189e) III. Presto
Debussy:
- Suite Bergamasque "Prelude"
- Suite Bergamasque "Menuet"
- Suite Bergamasque "Clair de Lune"
- Suite Bergamasque "Passepied"
Sony USA, Sony BMG Korea, Sony Music Japan International Inc.(Sony CLASSICAL).[4]
References
- 1 2 "Preisträger Klavier des Internationalen Musikwettbewerbs der ARD" (PDF). BR-online. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- 1 2 "What's New at Peabody". Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- 1 2 Catala, Paul (2006-10-25). "Ben Kim". Miami News Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ↑ http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/SR/benkim/
External links
- KIM Profile
- (Korean) Fansite Korea
- (Japanese) Profile in Japanese
- (Japanese) Sony Music Online Japan Official site
- Portland Chamber Orchestra — Best Buddies — Benjamin Kim
- Fromthetop.org: Young Performers: Benjamin Kim
- International Piano E-Competition 2004