Vita
Education
Jeonghyun Kim, born in Seoul in 1997, found her passion for the guitar at the age of 14. In her native city, she accomplished a Bachelor of Arts degree in guitar performance at the Korea National University of Arts.
Furthering her education, she journeyed to Germany and completed her Master of Music studies under the mentorship of Prof. Franz Halász at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich in 2022.
Jeonghyun’s sensitive and virtuoso playing was enriched through numerous master classes, having had the privilege to learn from Prof. Johannes Monno, Prof. Marco Tamayo, Prof. Laura Young, and Prof. Marco Socias.
Currently, Jeonghyun is studying her postgraduate program with Prof. Laura Young at Mozarteum University in Salzburg.
Concert
Jeonghyun’s musical prowess can be regularly experienced in concerts, where she performs both as a soloist and as a part of various ensembles. Over the years, she has been active in guitar duets, trios, quartets and even as a member of the Korean guitar orchestra, KNUA.
Beyond classical solo literature, her work heavily focuses on chamber music, for which she continually expands her repertoire through her own arrangements and a broad range of instrumentations. She has also played a pivotal role in several world premieres of contemporary compositions, including performing a piece for guitar and traditional Korean instruments composed by Yeseul Kim, and a flamenco-inspired piece written for her by Spanish composer Víctor Pantoja Figueroa.
Jeonghyun currently resides in Munich, Germany, where she organizes various concerts, including solo performances and chamber music recitals.
Scholarship
As a scholarship recipient of the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now München e.V., Jeonghyun has shown a deep interest in sharing her music with those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend a concert.
She was also sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) during her studies, further cementing her commitment to her craft.
MEDIA
Toru Takemitsu
Equinox
Toru Takemitsu
All in twilight
J.S. Bach
Allemande
Manuel María Ponce
Chanson
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.
contact Moonseok Choi:
NEWS
Concerts and current Projects
Duo Mosaic | St.Wolfgang | 23.06.24
On 23.06.2024, 5pm, Chambermusic concert in the church St.Wolfgang, Pipingerstr 51., 81245, München, free admission
Duo MODU | Interim München-Laim | 16.11.24
The concert of Duo MODU will take place from 8 to 9 PM on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the Internale music festival in Interim München-Laim.
For further information and tickets, please visit:
Benefit Concert for NBH | 06.07.24
On Saturday, July 6, 2024, a Benefit Concert for NBH with members of Münchener Rundfunkorchesters
CD Products
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.
Teaching
During her academic journey in Korea, Jeonghyun Kim found her calling in teaching, discovering a deep passion for imparting her love for guitar to others. She honed her teaching skills by working with a diverse range of age groups, from children to seniors, including roles at a municipal elderly care center and various music schools in Seoul. After earning her Master of Music degree in guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich, Jeonghyun made the decision to further enhance her teaching qualifications by undertaking artistic-pedagogical studies with a focus on guitar at the same institution.
Jeonghyun places great importance on creating an enjoyable and enriching environment for her students during their guitar lessons. She promotes the exploration of chamber music among her students, encouraging them to participate in guitar duos, trios, or orchestras. These engagements have provided her students with substantial concert experience, enhancing their social skills and teaching them to communicate on a musical level.
Currently, Jeonghyun imparts her knowledge and passion at Musikschule Ismaning e.V., where she offers individual and group lessons, instrumental carousel classes (an introductory course to guitar), and guitar orchestras. In addition, she provides private tutoring to students at Wittelsbacher-Gymnasium in Munich.
Jeonghyun is presently offering private guitar lessons in Munich-Neuhausen.