Vita
Education
Jeonghyun Kim, born in Seoul, is regarded as one of the promising young classical guitarists of her generation. She successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Guitar Performance at the Korea National University of Arts. She continued her musical education in Germany, where she graduated with a Master of Music degree under Prof. Franz Halász at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. She subsequently pursued postgraduate studies with Prof. Laura Young at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.
During her studies, she was supported by the scholarship of Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now München e.V. and received the STIBET scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) on several occasions. In addition, she further refined her sensitive and virtuosic playing through participation in international guitar festivals and artistic activities.
Concert
The musical activities of the Korean guitarist Jeonghyun Kim span both solo and chamber music performances in concert halls, music festivals, and private events. Her performances include concerts at the Alte Pinakothek and the Neues Rathaus in Munich, as well as at the Musikfestival Internale. Besides the classical guitar repertoire, she also performs Korean songs. Furthermore, she actively collaborates on contemporary compositions. From the early stages of the compositional process, she works closely with composers to explore the sonic colors and expressive possibilities of the guitar. She has premiered works by Víctor Pantoja Figueroa, Stefan Franz Huber, and James Doane, some of which were dedicated to her.
TEACHING
During her university studies, Jeonghyun Kim discovered her passion for teaching and sharing her love of the guitar. After completing her artistic guitar studies, she also completed an artistic-pedagogical studies with guitar as her main subject at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. She currently teaches guitar and guitar ensemble at the Ismaning Music School (Musikschule Ismaning e.V.). Her students regularly participate in concerts and competitions, with several of them having already won prizes. In addition, Jeonghyun Kim served as a lecturer in the professional development course “Fachtag Gitarre” organized by the Association of Bavarian Singing and Music Schools (Verband Bayerischer Sing- und Musikschulen e.V.). She also taught guitar at the Wittelsbacher-Gymnasium in Munich.
MEDIA
Toru Takemitsu
Equinox
Toru Takemitsu
All in twilight
J.S. Bach
Allemande
Manuel María Ponce
Chanson
CD Production
Toru Takemitsu (2022)
Guitar works of Takemitsu show a deep understanding of timbre, organisation, and instrumentation. The guitar is close to Takemitsu’s musical aesthetics in that it has great potential to articulate both, Eastern and Western music styles.
The classical guitar is an instrument that can digest a variety of Western musical elements, including polyphony and homophony, while it produces sounds similar to the traditional Japanese instrument ‚Biwa‘. In addition, the important keyword for understanding Takemitsu‘s guitar works is the Japanese aesthetics of ‚Ma‘. ‚Ma‘ is a concept that is explained by the stationary state in time, and/or the interval or emptiness in space. Takemitsu saw the stillness of this ‚Ma‘ as representing the latent energy, not the absence of sound.
The guitar is an instrument optimized for the musical implementation of this idea because of its sound mechanism; the plucked strings resonate with the body and its empty space.
Moonseok Choi Guitar
Jeonghyun’s artistic journey has been enriched by a longstanding friendship with the Korean guitar luthier, Moonseok Choi. Their connection, dating back to 2014, has led to a unique collaboration in the form of a double-back guitar, specifically crafted for Jeonghyun. This instrument, which Jeonghyun continues to use today, is a testament to their shared passion for music and innovation.
Moonseok Choi’s craftsmanship is evident in the meticulous construction of the guitar’s back, which is composed of over ten different types of wood. This intricate wood mosaic draws inspiration from Jogakbo, a traditional Korean patchwork that holds a special place in the heart of Choi’s mother.
Before creating this unique instrument for Jeonghyun, Moonseok Choi devoted considerable time to studying the principles of double-back guitars. This design minimizes the loss of vibrational energy usually caused by the musician’s contact with the guitar, thereby maintaining the instrument’s volume. Additionally, the distinctive holes on the back of the guitar serve to reduce the instrument’s weight, further enhancing its playability.
more about Moonseok Choi:
Booking
Music enriches special moments and creates an atmosphere in which emotions become tangible. Whether in concert halls, at award ceremonies, or weddings – I seek musical encounters that touch you and remain in your memory. My goal is to create a meaningful and atmospheric musical setting for your special occasion through my music. I am happy to accompany your events both as a soloist and together with my ensembles.
My permanent ensembles include Duo MODU and Duo MOSAIC. If you would like a different instrumentation or a special musical arrangement, I can organize additional musicians for your event upon request. You can find an overview of my repertoire in my portfolio. For special repertoire requests or individual musical ideas, you are welcome to contact me at any time. I look forward to your non-binding inquiry.
After your inquiry, we will discuss the details such as date, venue, musical program, and other organizational aspects. If everything is agreed upon, a contract will be prepared. The invoice is usually sent by email on the day of the event.
Furthermore, I am open to interdisciplinary projects and artistic collaborations. Musicians, composers, and artists are warmly invited to contact me to discuss possible joint artistic projects. I look forward to inspiring collaborations.
