One of ten pianists to perform at the 2014 Emil Gileles Foundation Festival in Freiburg, Germany, pianist Jeong-In Kim, has firmly established herself as a rising star in the world of classical music, captivating audiences worldwide as both a soloist and a collaborative pianist. Her performances have graced prestigious stages from the USA and South Korea to China, Japan, Italy, Canada, and Germany. Jeong-In made her orchestral debut at the age of 15 with the Daegu Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ravil Martynov in South Korea wining their Concerto Competition. She won top prize in the Korea Piano Society Competition and has been semi-finalist at Asia-Chopin Piano Competition and International Beethoven Sonata Competition in Memphis.
A passionate chamber musician and collaborative pianist, Jeong-In has had the privilege of sharing the spotlight with renowned artists, including members of illustrious ensembles such as the Tokyo, Miami, and Pacifica String Quartets, and musicians from acclaimed orchestras such as the Vienna Symphoniker, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and Daegu Symphony Orchestra. Her remarkable journey led her to Carnegie Hall, where she made her debut by winning first prize at the American Protégé String and Piano Duo Competition in 2013.
Jeong-In's dedication to her craft is underscored by numerous fellowships from prestigious festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival and School, Kent Blossom Music Festival at the Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and the Spoleto Music Festival (CCM) in Italy. She has also shared her expertise as a graduate assistant in vocal accompanying at the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music (CCM).
Jeong-In Kim is also a dedicated educator with studios in Cincinnati, Seoul, and Milwaukee. She has collaborated with the Seoul Arts Foundation's art education department and taught at Cincinnati Country Day School, while also serving as a graduate teaching assistant in piano pedagogy at the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music.
At the heart of Jeong-In's musical journey lies a deep-seated philosophy that classical music should be accessible to all. In 2013, she introduced Salon21 Cincinnati, a pioneering initiative that organizes intimate piano concerts in unconventional locations throughout the city, effectively breaking down barriers and making classical music accessible to young adults unfamiliar with the genre.In addition, she embarked on a mission to introduce the enchanting world of classical music to young hearts and minds by founding the "Bumblebee Music Korea" children's concert series in 2019. This initiative, central to her philosophy, aims to expose children to the wonders of classical music from an early age, fostering a lifelong love for the art form.
Jeong-In's scholarly pursuits have taken her into the realm of academic research, with a focus on the contemporary composer, Ruth Schonthal. She shared her insights by presenting a lecture at the 2015 London International Piano Symposium in the UK. Her contributions also extend to the written word, as evidenced by her article, "We can play together," published by Clavier Companion, providing valuable insights into effective chamber music coaching for young musicians.
Jeong-In currently serves as a staff pianist for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the MSOE University Music Program. She is the manager of the UWM Community Orchestra while pursuing a Performance Certificate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) under the guidance of Dr. Jun Kim.
Jeong-In holds degrees from College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati (MM, DMA) in Piano Performance and Pedagogy under the guidance of Michael Chertock and Michelle Conda and Chung-Ang University (BM). Among her esteemed mentors are Dmitri Bashkirov, Kevin Kenner, Jon Kimura Parker, André Laplante, Robert Levin, Nelita True, Frank Weinstock, and Christian Zacharias. Beyond her musical pursuits, she enjoys cooking Korean cuisine not readily available in Milwaukee and passionately supports the Packers and Brewers.