Soovin Kim facts for kids
Soovin Kim (born 1976) is a talented American violinist. He was born in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1976. His parents were from South Korea. When Soovin was two, his family moved to Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Even though no one in Soovin's family played music, he loved listening to classical violin music with his mom. Soon, he wanted to learn the violin himself. His parents signed him up for a local Suzuki class. He learned quickly and did very well with his teacher, William Fuhrburg.
In 1985, his family moved to Plattsburgh, New York. Soovin went to public schools there. He also took private violin lessons. Every week, he traveled to Montreal to study with Richard Roberts, who was the main violinist (concertmaster) of the Montreal Symphony.
When he was 13 and 14, Soovin was the concertmaster for the World Youth Orchestra. This was at Michigan's National Music Camp in Interlochen. A famous violinist named Itzhak Perlman played with the orchestra both summers. For five years, Soovin also played with the Vermont Youth Orchestra.
At 15, Soovin went to the Cleveland Institute of Music. He studied with Donald Weilerstein and David Cerone. In the summers, he attended the Encore School for Strings. This was a top summer school for young musicians who played string instruments.
Becoming a Professional Musician
In 1995, Soovin moved to the Curtis Institute of Music. There, he continued his violin studies. In 1996, he won the famous Paganini Competition in Italy. This was a big award for a young violinist. The next year, he won the Henryk Szeryng Career Award.
After winning the Paganini prize, Soovin spent his first summer at the Marlboro Festival. This festival is a special place for musicians to practice and perform together. Soovin often goes back to the Marlboro Festival.
In 2005, Soovin moved to New York City and got married. He often performs in Korea, both by himself and with a group called MIK. This group plays both old and new music. He also tours with other musicians who have won the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, which he received in 2005. When he is not touring, Soovin teaches music at SUNY Stony Brook.
See also
- List of Stradivarius instruments
