Esther Kim is a student at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana
University in Bloomington, Indiana. She is currently studying with
Professor Jaimie Laredo. At age 13, Esther won the Prix Du President at the
Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, 2002. She
also won the title for the "Most Promising Musician" at the L A
Philharmonic, the Bronislaw Kaper Award, 2001.
In 2004, Esther won the EMCY(European Union of Music Competitions for
Youth) prize for art.
Esther was born in 1988 in Southern California. She began violin lessons
at age 5. She met Dorothy Delay in 1998 when she participated in the Aspen
Music Festival and was accepted to study with Ms. Delay and Ms. Naoko
Tanaka at the Juilliard School.
From summer 2003 through spring 2006, Esther studied in Europe with
Professor Michael Frischenschlager at the Music University in Vienna,
Austria.
Since March 2006, she returned to USA and has been studying with
Professor Jaimie Laredo in Bloomington, Indiana.
Her first public appearance was in 1998 with the Crystal Cathedral
Orchestra playing the Mendelssohn e minor Violin Concerto. She has
concertized as a soloist with Rio Hondo Symphony, Marina Del
Rey-Westchester Orchestra and the Peninsula Symphony.
Esther won the "Prix du President" in 2002 at the International Yehudi
Menuhin Violin Competition. She subsequently was invited to play at the
gala concert. In 2002, she appeared as a guest soloist in the International
Sejong Soloists.
In April 2003, she had the first joint recital with Professor Charles
Webb, Dean Emeritus of Indiana University. In July 2003, she performed as a
featured soloist with Seoul Sinfonietta at the Seoul Art Center in Seoul. In
September 2003, she had a debut concert in Japan at the Kioi Hall in Tokyo.
She also was invited to perform the Tchaikovsky violin concerto with the
Nagoya Philharmonic at the Aichi Art Theater in Nagoya, Japan in August in
2005. She also has been concertizing in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia,
Korea and Japan.
Esther plays on a full size J.F. Pressenda 1827 violin and uses a
Dominique Pecatte bow.
Interview at Asian Dream concert 2003 in Japan
Asian Dream: I understand that you are currently 15 years old. But how old were you when you first started to learn how to play the violin. Also, why was it the violin and not any other instrument?
Esther Kim: I began my musical education at age 5, and the reason why I chose violin as my instrument was because both my parents love music, and especially love the violin, so naturally I began my musical studies with the violin.
Asian Dream: As you know the concert of Asian Dream 2003 is to serve as a debut concert of young and talented artists that will be taking a big leap into the world. How did you feel when you found out that you were chosen to play at this concert?
Esther Kim: When I received the news that I was going to play here in Kioi Hall, I was very excited because this hall is so famous. And also, I was very, very anxious to come here to Japan because it is the homeland of my teacher, Miss Tanaka.
Asian Dream: Can you share with us some of your dreams and hopes for the future?
Esther Kim: My hopes and dreams for the future is to become a great artist that can touch people’s hearts through my music.
Asian Dream: Finally, could you please give a message to the members of the audience?
Esther Kim: First of all, I am very honored to be here and I am very happy that I was given the opportunity to perform here in Japan. And secondly, I would like to say that I am very appreciative to those who have made the Asian Dream concert possible. And thirdly, I would like to say that I really hope in the future I can return to Japan once again for more concerts. And also, I would like to continue a long lasting relationship with the Japanese people. Asian Dream: Thank you very much Miss Kim, and we wish you the best in your bright future as a violinist. Please enjoy another beautiful performance by Miss Esther Kim.
Listen to Esther Kim
Esther won the "Prix du President" in 2002 at the International Yehudi
Menuhin Violin Competition. She subsequently was invited to play at the
gala concert. In 2002, she appeared as a guest soloist in the International
Sejong Soloists.
