Nahyun Kim composes in a complex yet modern idiom, combining unique pitch sets with engaging rhythmic profiles and a romantic sensibility which blends intuitive explorations, especially when dealing with psychological complications. She enjoys exploring the subject of mental disorders and writing music influenced by a relationship between cognitive science, psychology and the unity created through the musical experience.
Through numerous conferences and festivals, her works have gained recognition in Greece, Spain, Ukraine, Italy, China, France, Korea, and throughout the United States. She has also worked with ensembles and soloist such as Bera Romairone, Minju Choi, Jenny Lin, MIVOS Quartet, PUBLIQuartet, Ricochet Ensemble, Bruson Quartet, The Sylvanus Ensemble, The American Brass Quintet and among others. In addition, Dr. Kim’s string quartet, Iracundia won competitions and received performances at the 2014 PUBLIQ Access Showcase Concert in New York City and at the 2013 Kiev New Music Festival. As a scholar, she presented her research paper, “Development of the Original Korean Musical,” at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Currently she is a composer in residence for Grande Gioia Music in Seoul, Korea and an adjunct assistant professor at Kansas City Kansas Community College where she teaches music theory, piano and composition.
Dr. Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music, and Master of Arts in Music Theory and Composition from Stony Brook University, New York, where she studied composition with Sheila Silver. She completed a doctorate in composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where her primary teachers included Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Paul Rudy and James Mobberley.
In addition she has participated in master classes and had additional lessons with Stefano Gervasoni, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Christopher Theofanidis, Dmitri Tymoczko, Mario Garuti, Akira Nishimura, Louis Karchin, Fabien Levy, Stephen Hartke, Alvin Singleton, Christopher Rouse, Claude Baker, Paul Lansky, John Psathas, and Ezra Laderman.
Through numerous conferences and festivals, her works have gained recognition in Greece, Spain, Ukraine, Italy, China, France, Korea, and throughout the United States. She has also worked with ensembles and soloist such as Bera Romairone, Minju Choi, Jenny Lin, MIVOS Quartet, PUBLIQuartet, Ricochet Ensemble, Bruson Quartet, The Sylvanus Ensemble, The American Brass Quintet and among others. In addition, Dr. Kim’s string quartet, Iracundia won competitions and received performances at the 2014 PUBLIQ Access Showcase Concert in New York City and at the 2013 Kiev New Music Festival. As a scholar, she presented her research paper, “Development of the Original Korean Musical,” at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Currently she is a composer in residence for Grande Gioia Music in Seoul, Korea and an adjunct assistant professor at Kansas City Kansas Community College where she teaches music theory, piano and composition.
Dr. Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music, and Master of Arts in Music Theory and Composition from Stony Brook University, New York, where she studied composition with Sheila Silver. She completed a doctorate in composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where her primary teachers included Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Paul Rudy and James Mobberley.
In addition she has participated in master classes and had additional lessons with Stefano Gervasoni, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Christopher Theofanidis, Dmitri Tymoczko, Mario Garuti, Akira Nishimura, Louis Karchin, Fabien Levy, Stephen Hartke, Alvin Singleton, Christopher Rouse, Claude Baker, Paul Lansky, John Psathas, and Ezra Laderman.
Professional Activities
2017
Delian Academy for New Music, Mykonos, Greece
Piano recital at Indianapolis Landmarks Center
Faculty recital at the University of Indianapolis
2017 TUTTI Festival at Denison University, Ohio
2016
2015
Valencia International Performance Academy and Festival in Valencia, Spain
2014
PUBLIQ Access Composition Competition & PUBLIQ Access Showcase Concert in New York City
MACRO Composition Competition
Women Composers Festival of Hartford, Hartford, CT
2013
Orient/Occident 2013 Music Composers’ Competition and Forum in Kiev, Ukraine
Kiev New Music Festival in Kiev, Ukraine
highSCORE Music Festival in Pavia, Italy
11th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu
2012
Beijing International Composition Workshop, China
2010
Etchings-A Festival of Contemporary Music in Auvillar, France
2009
Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium
Oak Park High School’s Annual Concert, Kansas City
2007
IAWM 6th Annual Women in New Music Festival, California State University-Fullerton
2006
Stony Brook University Wind Chamber Music Festival
Delian Academy for New Music, Mykonos, Greece
- Hypnogogic Hallucinations for Also Saxophone was premiered on June 17th, 2017 by Saxophonist Bera Romairone
Piano recital at Indianapolis Landmarks Center
- Hypochondriasis for Piano will be performed on March 4th, 2017 by Pianist Minju Choi
Faculty recital at the University of Indianapolis
- Hypochondriasis for Piano will be performed on February 27th, 2017 by Pianist Minju Choi
2017 TUTTI Festival at Denison University, Ohio
- Hypochondriasis for Piano will be performed on February 10th, 2017 by Pianist Minju Choi
2016
- Passacaglia for Percussion Solo commissioned by Chris McLaurin, principal percussionist from Kansas City Symphony, Premiere- TBA 2017
- Delusion (TBA) for Trumpet and Organ commissioned by Clarion, a trumpet and organ duo (Keith Benjamin -Trumpet, Melody Steed – Organ), Premiere - TBA 2017
2015
Valencia International Performance Academy and Festival in Valencia, Spain
- Hypochondriasis for Piano was premiered on July 22nd, 2015 by Pianist Jenny Lin
- Iracundia for string quartet reading session on July 21, 2015 with MIVOS Quartet
2014
PUBLIQ Access Composition Competition & PUBLIQ Access Showcase Concert in New York City
- Iracundia for string quartet won the 2014 PUBLIQ Access Composition Competition. Performed May 24, 2014 by PUBLIQuartet at the PUBLIQ Access Showcase Concert in New York City
- PUBLIQuartet Travel Fund, April 2014
MACRO Composition Competition
- Iracundia for string quartet Awarded Honorable Mention in the 2014 Macro Analysis Creative Research Organization Composition Competition, November, 2013
Women Composers Festival of Hartford, Hartford, CT
- Insomnia for wind quintet was performed on March 6th, 2014 by The Sylvanus Ensemble
- UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City) Graduate Student Travel Grant, March, 2014
2013
Orient/Occident 2013 Music Composers’ Competition and Forum in Kiev, Ukraine
- Iracundia for string quartet won a fellowship to the Orient/Occident Music Composers’ competition and Forum
- Music and Mental Disorder (research paper) presented on September 26, 2013
- KCKCC Faculty Professional Development Fund, September, 2013
Kiev New Music Festival in Kiev, Ukraine
- Iracundia for string quartet was performed on September 28, 2013 by Ricochet String Quartet
highSCORE Music Festival in Pavia, Italy
- Iracundia for string quartet was comissioned and premiered on July 25th, 2013 by Bruson String Quartet at the highSCORE Music Festival in Pavia, Italy
- UMKC Conservatory Summer Grant, July 2013
11th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu
- Development of the Original Korean Musical (research paper) was presented on January 11th, 2013 at the 11th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu
- Barnett and Shirley Helzberg Award in Memory of Gladys Feld Helzberg and Carol Tally Davis Award—granted by UMKC Women’s Council
- UMKC Graduate Student Travel Grant, January 2013
- KCKCC Faculty Professional Development Fund, January 2013
2012
Beijing International Composition Workshop, China
- Hypochondriasis partially presented on July 15th, 2012 at the Beijing International Composition Workshop, China
- Go Free, Giant! for electronic music was presented on July 7th, 2010
- UMKC Conservatory Summer Grant, July 2012
2010
Etchings-A Festival of Contemporary Music in Auvillar, France
- Go Free, Giant! for electronic music was presented on July 7th, 2010
- Etchings Festival for Contemporary Music at Moulin à Nef Award, March 2010
- UMKC Conservatory Summer Grant, July 2010
2009
Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium
- Present Chaos was premiered on July 3rd, 2009 at the Oregon Bach Festival Composers’ Symposium at University of Oregon
- Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium Scholarship, May 2009
- UMKC Conservatory Summer Grant, May 2009
Oak Park High School’s Annual Concert, Kansas City
- Rhapsody for String Orchestra was commissioned by Oak Park High School String Orchestra and premiered on May 7th, 2009 at the Oak Park High School’s Annual Concert, Kansas City
2007
IAWM 6th Annual Women in New Music Festival, California State University-Fullerton
- Discourse upon Discord was performed at the IAWM 6th Annual Women in New Music Festival, California State University-Fullerton, March 2007
- Performed on April, 7th 2006 at Stony Brook University at the Wind Chamber Music Festival
- Stony Brook University Music Departmental Travel Grant, March 2007
- SUNY- GSEU (Graduate Students Employees Union) Conference Grant, March 2007
2006
Stony Brook University Wind Chamber Music Festival
- Discourse upon Discord was performed on April, 7th 2006
- La Tornade was read by American Brass Quintet
