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The Korean-born composer, conductor and church musician, Hanna Grace Kim, was influenced strongly by her father, a pastor and church musician. She grew up listening to a variety of orchestra, choral and sacred works. She began piano studies at the age of 4, and often participated in solo singing, piano, and violin competitions. She was awarded composition prizes from Korean since 18 years old in renowned competitions such as Eumak Chunchu (3rd prize, March 2005); Jeonbuk (1st prize, December 2005); Eumak Journal (3rd prize, September 2006); and Eum Yeon (3rd prize, October, 2007). In 2010, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Composition and minor in organ at Ewha Womans University in Korea (2006-2010). During undergraduate program, she had a lot of opportunities to have her own recital that her chamber orchestra pieces and choral pieces were performed.
In addition to school activities, Hanna Kim has been deeply involved with composition and arrangement for an orchestra and choir at church. She has also worked as a choral conductor and organist at church in Korea. After graduating college, she moved to Pittsburgh to continue her studies in composition in master’s program at Carnegie Mellon University. She studied there with professor Leonardo Balada, who was a student of Aaron Copland, and she could have a lot of her own composition recitals with various genres such as orchestra, chamber, opera and choral pieces. Also, she studied choral conducting with Grammy Award-winning Maestro Robert Page. She obtained her Master of Music degree in Composition from Carnegie Mellon University (2011-2013).
In addition to school activities, Hanna Kim has been deeply involved with singing, composition and arrangement for an orchestra and choir at church. As a soprano, she worked at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, and she has been singing for a variety of ensemble in Rochester. She has also worked as a choral conductor and organist at church in Korea.
Hanna Kim is pursuing her Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the Eastman School of Music, where she studies under Dr. William Weinert (2013-2015). She also studies orchestral conducting with professor Brad Lubman and organ with Professor Edoardo Bellotti. At Eastman, she has conducted the Eastman Women’s Chorus, Eastman Repertory Singers, Eastman Chorale, Eastman-Rochester Chorus and Eastman Bach cantata ensemble. She recently had her recital with the Eastman Repertory Singers and chamber orchestra for the Haydn's Nelson Mass. In October 2014, she conducted a concert in the frame of Eastman School of Music: Cantata! A Bach Cantata Series. In addition to her conducting responsibilities at Eastman, she serves as choir director and organist at Pultneyville Reformed Church (since September 2013). Among her compositions: The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ for orchestra. |
