Master Class

Jenny Soonjin Kim

Dr. Jenny Soonjin Kim has earned an international reputation as a distinguished pianist, fortepianist, recording artist, and cultural leader. Known for her dynamic artistry, intellectual depth, and unmistakable Spielfreude — a radiant joy in music-making that unites expressive vitality with refined elegance — she brings both emotional intensity and stylistic clarity to repertoire ranging from Bach to Schoenberg.
An exclusive SONY Classical artist, she released her acclaimed solo album Eternal Beethoven, further establishing her as a compelling interpreter of the Classical and Romantic canon. Her prolific recording career includes performances for Arabesque Records, which nominated her for the Gilmore Artist Award. She achieved the world-premiere recording of Johann Friedrich Doles’s keyboard sonatas and completed the full cycle of Leopold Kozeluch’s keyboard sonatas in a landmark 12-CD box set for Brilliant Classics.
A celebrated performer on the international stage, Dr. Kim performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic at the Musikverein’s Golden Hall in Vienna in 2022, commemorating the 130th anniversary of Korea–Austria diplomatic relations. She reprised the concerto with the Nürnberger Symphoniker at the Berlin Philharmonie in March 2024. Appointed Visiting Professor for the Wiener Masterclass at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (MDW) in 2024, she continues to mentor young artists within the European tradition.
Dr. Kim is currently completing her monumental Beethoven Complete Five Piano Concertos recording project with the Savaria Symphonieorchester under Maestro Robert Pápocsi, with the full cycle culminating in 2027. A major highlight will be her invitation to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” on June 10, 2027 at the 62nd Beethoven International Music Festival in Teplice, appearing with the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in the Philharmonic Hall of Teplice.
In July 2026, she will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 at the Mozarteum Great Hall (Großer Saal) in Salzburg as part of the Mozart 270th Anniversary Festival. The live concert and live video recording will feature L’Orchestra da Camera Ferruccio Busoni under conductor Massimo Belli, marking a significant artistic milestone in her international career.
In October 2025, Dr. Kim achieved a major milestone in academic and artistic leadership by organizing and performing in the Claremont Graduate University Centennial Concert at Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges). The celebration culminated in a powerful performance of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, which she directed and performed, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, and distinguished guests in a spirit of unity and artistic vision.
Dedicated to advancing musical education and international collaboration, Dr. Kim has been invited annually as a presenter at the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) State Conference since 2022 and serves as Regional South Chair for the CAPMT Concerto Competition. As an advocate for cultural diplomacy, she actively fosters artistic exchange between Korea and the United States. She plays a leading ambassadorial role in the November 11, 2026 collaboration between the National Chorus of Korea and the Los Angeles Master Chorale at Walt Disney Concert Hall, presented as a subscription concert in the LA Master Chorale’s 2026–2027 season.
Dr. Kim is Assistant Professor of Practice at Claremont Graduate University. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Master Chorale since 2015 and is Co-Chair of its Gala Host Committee for the 60th Anniversary Season. She is also a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and the American Liszt Society (ALS).

Languages: German, English, Korean