Benny Kim – Acclaimed Violinist

Macomb native, and internationally known and acclaimed violinist Benny Kim has performed as soloist with the symphony orchestras of Chicago, Boston, Saint Louis, Cincinnati, Hong Kong, and South Africa to name a few. In recital, he has performed in virtually every major city including two critically acclaimed recitals at the 92nd St. Y in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He has collaborated with many of today’s leading artists including Pinchas Zukerman, Lynn Harrell, Jaime Laredo, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Ida Kavafian. As an EMI recording artist he has appeared on two recordings with Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg , Bella Italia and Night and Day. He was a winner of the 1983 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and received his bachelors and masters degrees from the Juilliard School in 1986.

Benny is a proud product of the Suzuki Method, which he began at age 10 with Doris Preucil. He continued his violín studies with Almita Vamos and at age 15 won the Chicago Symphony Youth Symphony Auditions, making his solo debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. One year later he won the St. Louis Symphony Youth Auditions and the Julius Stulberg Auditions. Kim went on to graduate with Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied with legendary pedagogue Dorothy DeLay. In 1983, Mr. Kim won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions at age 20. While at Juilliard, the residents of Macomb, IL, Benny’s hometown, heard the news that he was preparing to puchase a violin. This small community, along with faculty members of Western Illinois University, began a fundraising campaign to contribute to the purchase. In 1987 he acquired a 1732 Stradivarius violin.

Known for his versatility as soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, Mr. Kim has been described as having “titanium technique” and producing “exquisite, pearly colorations.”

“[Benny Kim’s] emotional depth and musical carriage are his real drawing cards. His is a style that touches the peak of romantic violin playing.” – The Washington Post

Mr. Kim is first violinist of the Miami String Quartet, winner of the prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, and Quartet in Residence at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Additionally, Mr. Kim has given countless masterclasses around the world and has been on the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory faculty since 1995.