Jeeihn Kim

Biography supplied for the 2026 competition.

Jee Kim made a stage debut at age ten, performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Pazardzhik Orchestra in Bulgaria. As a first-year student at Yewon School, Kim was invited by Russian violinist Vladimir Dyo, a winner of the Young Tchaikovsky Competition, to study in the United States. While studying in Philadelphia, Kim advanced to the semifinals of the International Young Tchaikovsky Competition in Kazakhstan. After returning to Korea at sixteen, Kim rose to prominence with first prize at the Music Education Newspaper Competition. Numerous honors followed, including the Grand Prize at the Seoul International Chamber Orchestra Competition and the Grand Prize with album sponsorship at the TnB Competition. Kim also won first prizes at the Sung Jung Music Competition, the Korean International Music Festival Audition, the Yejin and Shin-ye Competitions, and the Korea-America Music Talent Exchange Foundation Competition. Jee Kim graduated from Seoul Arts High School ranking first and second in performance.

At Seoul National University, Kim studied with violinist Kyung Sun Lee for three years. She then entered the Performance Diploma program at Indiana University, performing alongside faculty in the Faculty Concert Series and launching a career as a chamber musician. During that time, Jee Kim also won second prize in the Indiana University Concerto Competition. Kim went on to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) as a full-scholarship Artist Diploma student and Osher Scholar. There she studied with Wonhee Bae, first violinist of the Esmé Quartet, and shared the stage with distinguished musicians including Inon Barnatan, Kim Kashkashian, and Clive Greensmith, Jonathan Brown.

In 2025, Jee Kim won the SFCM Concerto Competition, the Van Wayne Artist Competition, and the Honors Chamber Competition in succession. That same year, she performed in masterclasses for Leonidas Kavakos, Midori, and Stefan Jackiw. She has given solo recitals at Lincoln Center and Manhattan Hall in New York. Jee has also been invited to the Seoul International Music Festival, the Changwon International Chamber Music Festival, and the Busan International Music Festival. As a soloist, Jee has appeared with the Bulgarian National Orchestra, Japan Prime Orchestra, Union City Symphony Orchestra (New Jersey), Seoul Orchestra, Mostly Philharmony Orchestra, and the Seoul National University String Chamber Orchestra.

Jeeihn Kim is currently pursuing a master's degree in chamber music after finishing Artist Diploma at SFCM and is an active member of the Amaru String Quartet. Kim was recently named a participant in the 2026 Naumburg International Competition.