Dr. Agnes Kim, a native of Korea, began her early musical training under the guidance of her mother. A gifted pianist from a young age, she won numerous competitions and, at the age of 12 in 1981, performed with the Korye Symphony Orchestra at the National Theatre of Korea.
After moving to the United States with her family in 1983, Dr. Kim was awarded a full scholarship to continue her studies at the School of Performing Arts (now known as the Colburn School) in Los Angeles. Her performances there earned critical recognition and were broadcast on a classical radio station.
Dr. Kim was later accepted into the USC School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degrees in Piano Performance. Her principal piano teachers included James Bonn and Kevin Fitz-Gerald, and she studied harpsichord as a minor instrument with Malcolm Hamilton. In the summer of 1991, she had the distinguished opportunity to study in France with the renowned French concert pianist Cécile Ousset.
Throughout her academic and professional career, Dr. Kim has won numerous solo and concerto competitions sponsored by the Music Teachers’ Association of California, the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Young Artist Piano Competitions, as well as various local, state, and national scholarship competitions.
Upon completing her DMA at USC, Dr. Kim joined the faculty of Antelope Valley College as an adjunct instructor. There, she taught class piano, music fundamentals, keyboard harmony, and applied piano lessons. During her tenure, she also appeared as a soloist with the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center.
Currently, Dr. Kim maintains an active private teaching studio and continues her professional involvement as a member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC), Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT). Within the Santa Clarita Branch of MTAC, she has served as Vice President and Chair of Branch Recitals, and she currently serves as Chair of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.
Under Dr. Kim’s direction, her students have consistently earned top placements and awards at numerous competitions and festivals. They have performed with the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Bach Festival Orchestra, SYMF Orchestra, Antelope Valley College Symphony Orchestra, Santa Clarita Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Pasadena Community Orchestra. In March 2011, Dr. Kim and three of her students received a Recognition Award from the City of Santa Clarita Arts Commission. Many of her former students have continued their studies at prestigious institutions such as Oberlin Conservatory, Mannes School of Music, USC, CSUN, University of the Pacific, and The Master’s College.
In addition to her teaching and performance career, Dr. Kim is a highly respected adjudicator. She has served as a judge for numerous competitions and festivals and is frequently invited to evaluate young musicians throughout the region.