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Hwa-Jin Kim, piano
Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim was born in Daegu, South Korea, where she began her piano studies at the age of five. At age seven, she was chosen to perform at MBC Television Station in Daegu, and at age fourteen, she appeared as a soloist with the Daegu Symphony Orchestra, performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. She won numerous competitions and entered the prestigious Seoul National University in South Korea on a full scholarship, studying with Dr. Jin-Woo Chung. Upon graduation, she came to New York to continue her studies at the Manhattan School of Music, where she received her Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. Dr. Kim has performed in South Korea, Italy and many other venues in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Kim was the youngest faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music, Reformed Presbyterian Seminary of the East, and New York Bethesda Theological Seminary, teaching both piano and music history. She also taught at Brown University in Rhode Island. After moving to the Asheville/ Hendersonville area of North Carolina in 2000 with her husband, Dr. Paul Kim and their two daughters, Dr. Kim has been featured as a soloist in numerous concert series and benefit concerts. She actively works as soloist, chamber musician, lecturer and teacher as well as competition adjudicator. Dr. Kim joined the music faculty at University of North Carolina at Asheville in January 2003. To promote classical music in the community, Dr. Kim founded Asheville Chopin Club and has produced very successful concerts.
Dr. Kim is also the creator and director of UNC Asheville Summer Piano Camp for students between 6th and 12th grades.