BIOGRAPHY

Praised for his “great technique” and “excellent breath control” by the music critic of South Korea’s major newspaper Chosun Ilbo, Janghyun Thomas Kim, originally from South Korea, has established himself as a versatile artist, excelling as a performer, chamber musician, educator, and composer on an international scale. Currently, he serves as the Clarinet Instructor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a testament to his commitment to music education.

 

As an accomplished performer, Janghyun Thomas Kim achieved his solo debut at South Korea’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts through sponsorship by The Chosun Ilbo. His talents were further recognized with a second-place win at the American Protégé International Music Competition in 2018, leading to his American solo debut at Carnegie Hall. Kim’s musicality extends to chamber music, notable achievements including winning the Grand Prix at the IV International Music Competition-Caspi Art Competition and securing first prize at the Music International Grand Prix. A co-founder of the Vermillion Duet, he actively fosters diversity by commissioning and performing contemporary works from underrepresented composers and promoting inclusivity in the modern music scene. Under his leadership, the duo has received grants from Chamber Music America, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, and Frisco Arts. The Vermillion Duet’s performances have been presented on platforms such as the VII Festival Internacional de Música de Cámará, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, and the National Flute Association Convention.

 

As a passionate educator, Kim served as a teaching artist at the Orff Schulwerk Music Therapy Institute in South Korea and the Kids’ Orchestra in Baton Rouge, LA. These organizations, inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema, allowed him to nurture a community of creative, confident, and socially engaged students through music education. Kim’s pedagogical activity continued as a private instructor in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan area, where he established a thriving clarinet studio. His dedicated mentorship led his students to excel, helping them secure college opportunities and even experience their debut at Carnegie Hall. Presently, he is the Clarinet Instructor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, empowering undergraduate students to pursue their career aspirations.

 

As a composer, Kim frequently collaborates internationally with performers. His composition works have been performed across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. These performances include flutist Léa Villeneuve’s solo recital in Germany, Sung-Sik Kim’s flute solo recital in South Korea, the Duo Sphere’s chamber recital at ClarinetFest® (International Clarinet Association), Agorart Ensemble’s chamber recital in Italy, and Vll International Chamber Music Festival of Ecuador. His first composition, Destin, was performed by clarinetist Javier Elizondo at Carnegie Hall in May 2021. Kim studied composition as his doctoral minor with Dr. Mara Gibson at LSU.

 

Kim earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State University, Master of Music degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, and Bachelor of Music degree from the Catholic University of Korea. He held Graduate Assistant positions at both LSU and SELU. His primary instructors have included Deborah Chodacki, Victor Drescher, Sejong Yoo, and Hyungak Shin.