Piano
Education
Minji earned her BM in Piano Performance from Seoul National University, where she also received a BA in Art History. Subsequently, Minji received both an MM in Piano Performance and an MM in Chamber Music Performance from the University of Michigan, where she also went on to earn her DMA in Piano Performance alongside a Certificate of Art Leadership and Entrepreneurship.
An avid researcher, Minji gave a lecture recital on Steven Stucky’s Piano Sonata (2014) as a part of her Dissertation Recitals, exploring connections to the medieval technique of Isorhythmic Motets and the harmonic influence of Witold Lutoslawski. She is also part of the research project UARTS Faculty Engineering/Arts Student Team (FEAST) “Korean Art Song: Making Gagok Accessible for English Speakers”. The purpose of the project is to build a database, making Korean art songs more accessible to English speakers with translations and phonetics available to aid singers in their study for performance. She is not only a member of the research team but also was a collaborative pianist for the project’s first concert, “Korean Art Song Recital at the University of Michigan Museum of Art” in September 2022, where she performed a variety of Korean Art Songs that are now in the newly published database.
As a Performer
Minji Kim, a native of South Korea, is an active soloist and chamber musician who has performed across the United States, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and Russia. She has also appeared as a concerto soloist with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and has been invited to perform solo recitals at the Crystal Valley Concert Series in Indiana as well as the Music for Meditation Series at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Michigan. Elsewhere, she won first prizes in prestigious competitions such as the Chung-Ang University Competition and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Competition and was a finalist in both the 2021 Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition in Tennessee as well as the 2019 Beardsley Piano Prize Competition in Indiana.
As a passionate chamber musician, she is one of the founding members of CASM (Chamber Artists of Southeast Michigan) and Duo SORI. She was featured in the University of Michigan Museum of Art Musical Label project, an exhibition “You Are Here” at the UMMA, the Bloomfield Township Public Library Chamber Music Concert Series, and in many duo/chamber recitals.
In addition to chamber music, Minji is also an experienced collaborative pianist and accompanist. She has served on the collaborative piano faculty for Center Stage Strings through the MPulse Institute at the University of Michigan, where she rehearsed, coached, and performed with violin, viola, and cello students in lessons, masterclasses, studio classes, and recitals. She has also worked in a similar role as a pianist for the String Preparatory Academy. Additionally, Minji has worked as a choral accompanist with the Residential College Singers, the Ann Arbor Grail Singers, and the choirs of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
As a Teacher
Minji is an enthusiastic educator and has taught group piano and private lessons at the University of Michigan as a Graduate Student Instructor. She also worked as a Teaching Artist for the Michigan Artist Citizens/Our Own Thing Piano Program, which provides inclusive and culturally relevant arts instruction for primarily African American students living in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She also obtained a Secondary School 2nd Grade Teacher Qualification in General Music issued by the Ministry of Education in South Korea, which recognized her passion for teaching. Since 2010, she has had a private studio comprised of students of various ages and skill levels.
At Levine
Minji joined Levine’s piano faculty in 2023.
More About Minji
Outside of music, Minji enjoys all kinds of cultural activities, especially reading, watching movies, traveling to new places, drinking great tea, and going to museums.