Today we feature two brothers, both solo and as a duo. Samuel and Joseph Kim recently moved from Libertyville to Chesapeake, Virginia, and are back in town for a fraternal recital. They bring music from the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, including from two Chicago composers.
Joseph Kim is 15 years old and a rising high school sophomore. He started his journey as a guitarist when he was four years old. Joseph has been taking lessons from Brad Conroy at the Music Institute of Chicago for the past four and a half years. He is a four-time winner of the Granquist Music Competition and a two time winner of the Society of American Musicians competition. Most recently, he placed second at the Latino Arts LASP Guitar Festival.
Alongside being a classical guitarist, Joseph also plays euphonium and trombone in high school bands. In addition to his instrumental activities, Joseph was a long-standing member of the Lake County Boys' Choir and has been a student leader, assisting with the younger boys' group. Musical interests aside, he is fascinated
by severe weather and is working towards a career in meteorology.
Samuel Kim is 17 years old, a rising senior at Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. He began playing piano at the age of 4.5 years with his first teacher, his grandmother. He has been studying with his current teacher Dr. Soo Young Lee for the past 4 years at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Past awards include the Gold Medal at the Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association 2015 and 2020, Chicago Area Music Teachers Association 2017 and 2018, and North Shore Music Teachers Association 2019 Sonata-Sonatina Festivals; Achievements in Music (AIM) Honors award 2016, 2017, and 2018; First Place at the Granquist Music Festival in 2014, 2015, and 2016; and Honorable Mention in the Emilio del Rosario Concerto Competition Elementary Division 2017. Sam has performed with the Northeastern Illinois University Orchestra as the winner of the Chicago Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition 2021.
In addition to piano performance, Sam is an avid percussionist and received the Achievement Award at the 2022 ISYM Percussion Week at the University of Illinois. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, animating, and playing with his golden retriever.