Dennis Kim
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Born in Korea, raised in Canada, educated in the United States, and now working in Europe, Dennis Kim is truly a citizen of the world. Dennis Kim was first appointed Concertmaster of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra at the age of 22. He has since served as Concertmaster of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa and currently holds this position in the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland and the Jonkoping Sinfonietta in Sweden. Recently appointed 1st Concertmaster of the Finnish National Opera, Mr. Kim starts in Helsinki in August of 2011. Mr Kim has been guest Concertmaster on four continents including the orchestras of Malaysia, Western Australia, BBC Scottish, Macao, Montpellier, and Lille and the London Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few. He has worked with many of this generations greatest conductors including Riccardo Chailly, Charles Dutoit, Riccardo Muti, Hannu Lintu, Andre Previn, and Sir Simon Rattle to name a few.
A dedicated teacher, Mr Kim has been on the faculty of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Korean National University of the Arts, Yonsei University, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Atlantic Music Festival and the Seoul Arts Academy. His students have been accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music, Colburn School, Juilliard School, Peabody Conservatory, and the Queen Elizabeth College of Music and play in orchestras around the world.
As a chamber musician, Mr Kim has performed with many leading musicians including Pinchas Zuckerman, Jaime Laredo, Carter Brey, John Sharp, Marya Martin, and members of the Orion, Tokyo, and Guarneri string quartets. In Hong Kong, Mr. Kim was a founding member of Opus 3, a Piano Trio with Warren Lee and Richard Bamping, and 1st violinist of the Dragon String Quartet. After making his solo debut at the age of 14 with the Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr Kim has gone on to perform as a soloist with every major orchestra in China and Korea. Highlights include performing on 10 hours notice to replace an ill William Preucil, performing the Vivaldi Four Seasons 20 times in 1 week, and touring with the Busan Philharmonic on their Japan Tour in 2008.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Yale School of Music, Mr Kim's teachers include Victor Danchenko, Jaime Laredo, Aaron Rosand, Yumi Ninomiya Scott, Peter Oundjian, and Paul Kantor. Dennis Kim plays the 1701 ex-Dushkin Stradivarius, on permanent loan from a generous donor.