Jeeyoon Kim, piano

WFMT: PianoForte Salon Series Live

Program

Jeeyoon Kim will discuss and play selections from her new CD, “10 More Minutes”

In the Evening (Schumann)
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin)
Fantasie-Impromtpu in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin)
Pagodas from Estampes (Debussy)
Gardens in the Rain from Estampes (Debussy)
Sonata in F major, Op. 10, No. 2 (Beethoven)
Allegro
Allegretto
Presto
Arabeske (Schumann)
Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2 (Brahms)
Grande Valse in A-flat Major, Op. 42 (Chopin)

Jeeyoon Kim

Classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim’s greatest passion is music and connection. Her insightful commentary from the stage at her concerts started with her wish to connect with an audience. She is much more than just a pianist who performs music and afterwards disappears from crowds. “The more I have a deeper relationship with a piece, the more I want to bring others with me in that space. It is too beautiful to miss out. Music speaks for itself, but if there is a way to have more people appreciate music at a performance, even in that 1% of a chance, I would do it!”

Many of Jeeyoon’s fans love her performance style, bringing sensitive and sincere musical expressions and a personal approach to the audience through her music. Jeeyoon’s followers often comment that her concerts are more like ‘experiences’ than just a piano concert. Jeeyoon considers herself a “foodie”. She grew up in Korea, which is considered a foodies’ dream country and remembers that meals in childhood were a central part of Korean culture and her family. She states “whether it is French cuisine or sushi, my favorite kind of meal is when I can feel the essence of a cook through their food. Music is a same thing; it may be Chopin, but perhaps there is something personal and unique about every performance as each musician brings that music through their windows.”

She began studying music when she was just 4 years old and continued her undergraduate studies in Korea, majoring in piano performance. Jeeyoon received her Masters of Music and Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance from the Jacob School of Music at Indiana University.

Jeeyoon’s global performance appearances include PianoForte Salon Series on 98.7WFMT, Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, Wheeler Concert Hall at the University of Evansville, GloVil Art Hall in Korea, Judson Park Auditorium in Cleveland, the Mozarteum Festival in Salzburg, Austria, the San Diego Symphony Chamber Music Series, and the La Jolla Music Society Series. She has collaborated with soloists including violinist Phillippe Quint, Cellist Johannes Moser and Violinist Ning Feng. Susan Kitterman, former Artistic Director of New World Youth Symphony describes Jeeyoon’s artistry as ‘Absolutely phenomenal! What a sensitive and gifted pianist…’. Jazz Pianist, Gary Walter, commented ‘It would be criminal for the world not to hear Jeeyoon perform…’

In her other sphere of the musical world, she is known as “Dr. Kim”. As an accomplished pedagogue, she enjoys teaching, giving master classes and workshops to teachers at national and state music conferences. After her doctorate study in piano performance, she returned to Butler University for her Masters of Music, this time in Piano Pedagogy.

In December of 2015, her new album, “10 More Minutes” was initiated by crowdfunding with Kickstarter, and it has been successfully funded by her followers and fans. The album is a collection of pieces that she has performed over the years at that moment of wanting “ten more minutes” of her performance by audiences at her live concerts. “10 More Minutes” will be nationally released at a celebration concert on December 11th, 2016 by Namus Classics followed by a national tour in 2017.

“Twenty four hours a day isn’t enough time for all of what I want to do with my life, but it is full of music and connection. That is what makes me feel alive. I wake up in the morning with music in my head and my morning practice, and go to bed after spending many hours of practicing. In between I swim, teach, perform, and appreciate beautiful food. Those long hours of daily practice have been a part of my life as long as I remember, and I don’t have a concept of that it is easy or hard, it is just how it is! I have always hoped that at some point, my music would be delivered to someone’s heart. I can’t think of better way of spending my life.” says Jeeyoon.