ANTHONY DO-HOON KIM

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Anthony Do-Hoon Kim is a conductor, pianist, and educator dedicated to mentoring the next generation of classical musicians. His experience across orchestral, chamber, and solo repertoire informs his work on stage and in the teaching studio.

Since 2013, Mr. Kim has served as a conductor with the San Diego Youth Symphony, one of the largest youth orchestra programs in the United States, with a distinguished 80-year history. Over fourteen seasons, he has directed ensembles at every level of the organization—from Debut Strings and Overture Strings at the foundational stages, through Concert Orchestra and Philharmonia, to advanced ensembles including Sinfonia and Chamber Orchestra. His work spans core orchestral repertoire and educational literature, with a focus on long-term ensemble development and comprehensive music education. He has taught musicianship and chamber music through the Balboa Park Conservatory Program and has led orchestras within the El Sistema-inspired Community Opus Project.

Off the podium, Mr. Kim is a sought-after piano pedagogue and co-director of the Kim & Kim Piano Academy. In his San Diego studio, he is devoted to cultivating dedicated young pianists, working with students who begin between the ages of 3 and 6 and guiding them through more than a decade of study. Specializing in solo piano and chamber music, Mr. Kim nurtures each student from their very first music lesson to advanced levels of artistic development. His students have earned top prizes in regional and international competitions and have been accepted into leading piano programs in the nation, including Indiana University, Oberlin Conservatory, University of Southern California, Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Maryland, and Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Beyond his work in San Diego, Mr. Kim is the Director of the Santa Barbara Piano Retreat held at the Music Academy of the West. He also regularly presents piano masterclasses at the Masaki School of Music in Hawaii and for the AmateurPianists organization.

As a featured artist, Mr. Kim has appeared as both pianist and conductor on Classical KDB 93.7 FM and the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (PBS). A passionate advocate for new music, he has led numerous world premieres of works by living composers. Alongside his work as a performer and educator, Mr. Kim is frequently invited to serve as an adjudicator for competitions and arts organizations nationwide.

Previously, Mr. Kim served as Music Director of the Michigan Pops Orchestra and as founding Artistic Director of the Dead Composers Society at UC Santa Barbara. His conducting work spans a wide range of ensembles, with positions at the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, UCSB Symphony Orchestra, and the San Diego Summer Music Institute, alongside guest appearances with orchestras at the University of Michigan, San Diego State University, the Colburn School, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Kadima Conservatory of Music, Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, and honor orchestras throughout California.

Mr. Kim studied as a Conducting Fellow at the Pierre Monteux School and at the Conductors Institute at Bard College Conservatory of Music, under the mentorship of Michael Jinbo and Harold Farberman. He has performed in masterclasses and received training from artists including Leon Fleisher, Gustav Meier, Yuval Yaron, Yael Weiss, and the Juilliard String Quartet. He is a recipient of multiple career grants from the Léni Fé Bland Foundation and has won first prize awards in piano from the Music Teachers National Association and the Saddleback Symphony Young Artist Competition.

Anthony Do-Hoon Kim earned his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Kenneth Kiesler. He also holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was a student of Charles Asche. As a graduate instructor, he taught undergraduate instrumental conducting courses and also performed as a violinist in the UCSB Nova Quartet. As a pianist, he received the Ernö Daniel Memorial Award for Distinguished Performance and was named the UCSB Department of Music Outstanding Graduate of the Year.

*Full-page featured article on Anthony Do-Hoon Kim, San Diego Union-Tribune 2019 Spring Arts Preview: LINK