Ji Hyun Kim

Violin
Albion College

An Australian-American violinist, Dr. Ji Hyun Kim is a sought-after soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, educator, and music director. Born in South Korea, raised in New Zealand and Australia, and now residing in the United States, Ji Hyun's multicultural background has 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 and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at Michigan State University, with cognate studies in Contemporary Art Music, Viola Performance, and Music Therapy. She also has worked closely and performed with renowned 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. Her doctoral research, "Thinking Outside the Chamber: Revolutionary Revivals of the String Quartet Medium in North America since the Late Twentieth Century," is listed in the Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology database of the American Musicological Society.    

As an acclaimed violinist, Ji Hyun has made numerous media appearances worldwide and performed in major cities in 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 and SBS Korean Radio, and Michigan's WKAR and WILX Broadcast. Ji Hyun's outstanding musicality was recognized through her success in both national and international competitions hosted by the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Foundation, Yamaha Music Society, Chamber Music New Zealand, Sydney Eisteddfod, International Grieg Society, and the International Golden Classical Music Awards. Ji Hyun also served as concertmaster and principal violinist of various ensembles and orchestras, including the Ad Libitum, Musique 21, Sydney Sinfonia, Vianden Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Society of International Music Artist Orchestra, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. 

Ji Hyun is the Director of Orchestra and String Studies and Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Albion College. As a dedicated educator, Ji Hyun has traveled nationally and internationally to adjudicate in auditions and competitions, present lecture-recitals and master classes, give chamber and orchestral clinics, and lead interdisciplinary workshops for various audiences.

Ji Hyun is also the founder, artistic director, and violinist of ConTempus Initiative. This Michigan-based contemporary music collective is committed to presenting more creative and collaborative performances of compositions by living composers and overlooked female composers to connect with today's audiences. Determined to cultivate more engaging composer-performer-audience relationships through new music that is relatable and accessible, Ji Hyun and the ConTempus ensembles have premiered multiple works by both professional and student composers in more unconventional and inclusive settings, collaborated with contemporary jazz and world-music ensembles, and presented interdisciplinary and community-enriching concert programs with 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 more.