About Jun Y. Kim

Jun Y. Kim, Conductor

Korean-American conductor Jun Kim is widely recognized for his expressive clarity, collaborative artistry, and ability to draw deeply engaging performances from both professional and university orchestras. Praised for his “snappy energy and terrific ear for detail” (Milwaukee Magazine) and “stylish support” (Baltimore Sun) on a Schumann Cello Concerto recording, Kim has steadily built a reputation as a compelling musical leader on symphonic and operatic stages throughout North America and Europe.

As Music Director of the UWM Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director and Conductor of the Washington Chamber Orchestra (WCO), Kim has shaped a distinctive artistic vision rooted in excellence, inclusivity, and community engagement. Under his leadership, WCO is completing a full Beethoven Symphony Cycle and has presented a sold-out concert with pianist Seong-Jin Cho, a critically acclaimed performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto featuring Alex Kerr (Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Mark Kosower (Principal Cello, Cleveland Orchestra), and Min Kwon (Steinway Artist), as well as performances with Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Yekwon Sunwoo in Mendelssohn’s complete piano concertos.

Internationally, Kim has guest conducted the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta de Córdoba, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Opera and Ballet in Constanța, Romania. He has appeared with more than 40 orchestras across Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Venezuela through competitions, festivals, masterclasses, and guest engagements. Notable appearances include work with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the St. Magnus Festival, as well as collaborations with the Cincinnati and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras through the Conductors Guild. Other appearances include the Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra, Brașov Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, and the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia.

A laureate of several international competitions, Kim won First Prize at the Malta International Conducting Competition, Second Prize at the Orquesta de Córdoba Conducting Competition, the Special Prize at the Ionel Perlea International Conducting Competition, and the Beethoven Conducting Prize from the European Music Academy. He is also a recipient of the L’Académie Lyrique Conductor’s Award and was selected by Kurt Masur for his conducting seminar in New York. Earlier in his career, he was chosen for the Discovery Series at the Oregon Bach Festival, where he worked closely with Helmuth Rilling, and later trained at the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors on a full scholarship.

Equally at home in the opera pit, Kim received First Prize in the American Prize in Opera Conducting. His operatic credits include full productions of works by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Strauss, Offenbach, Ravel, and Purcell. He also conducted the final round of the Washington International Competition in Voice at the Kennedy Center.

A sought-after collaborator, Kim has worked with internationally celebrated artists including Joshua Bell, Denyce Graves, Alexander Kagan, Martin García García, Yeol-Eum Son, HaeSun Paik, Rachel Barton Pine, Bomsori Kim, Amit Peled, Alexander Fiterstein, Judith Ingolfsson, and Marina Piccinini.

Committed to supporting young musicians from diverse backgrounds, Kim is actively involved in initiatives that foster inclusion and opportunity in classical music, most recently through his work with the Denyce Graves Foundation’s Shared Voices initiative, which supports emerging opera singers from underrepresented communities.

Born in Seoul, Korea, and based in the United States, Kim began his musical journey as a violinist. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. His principal conducting mentors include Dumitru Goia, Jorma Panula, Gustav Meier, and Markand Thakar, with further studies under Martyn Brabbins, Nicolás Pasquet, Johannes Schlaefli, and Kenneth Kiesler.

Whether working with world-class orchestras, mentoring emerging artists, or building bridges through music, Jun Y. Kim brings passion, precision, and a deep belief in the transformative power of performance.