{{short description|American pianist}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Benjamin Kim | birth_place = Portland, Oregon, United States | other_names = Ben Kim | occupation = Pianist | website = {{URL|https://benkimonline.com/}} }}
'''Benjamin "Ben" Kim''' is an American pianist, who won the 55th ARD International Music Competition in Munich, September 2006 (First prize).<ref name="br-online.de">{{cite news| publisher =BR-online| title =Preisträger Klavier des Internationalen Musikwettbewerbs der ARD| url =http://www.br-online.de/content/cms/Universalseite/2008/08/04/cumulus/BR-online-Publikation--175784-20080804122408.pdf| accessdate =July 25, 2009| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20100922110441/http://www.br-online.de/content/cms/Universalseite/2008/08/04/cumulus/BR-online-Publikation--175784-20080804122408.pdf| archivedate =September 22, 2010}}</ref>
==Biography== "Kim, who was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, began studying piano at the age of five with Dorothy Fahlman."<ref name="What's New at Peabody">{{cite news| publisher =Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins| title =What's New at Peabody| url =http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/543?detail=log&id=198| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070510051544/http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/543?detail=log&id=198| url-status =dead| archive-date =May 10, 2007| accessdate =July 25, 2009}}</ref> At the age of eight, he performed his first public solo recital and his orchestral debut at twelve. At age 20, he finished an accelerated Bachelor of Music degree program at the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Leon Fleisher. He continued his studies at Peabody with Leon Fleisher together with Yong Hi Moon as a candidate for the Artist Diploma program. In addition, Ben was selected to attend the International Piano Academy Lake Como in Italy, a program for seven pianists, headed by Martha Argerich and William Grant Naboré.<ref name="What's New at Peabody" /> He finished his studies at the Universität der Künste Berlin (UDK Berlin) with Klaus Hellwig
He made his debut at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall with the Olympus Chamber Players in 2009 and at Suntory Hall in Tokyo in 2010. Kim has been presented in major halls throughout the world, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio, German Radio, Baltimore, Seoul Philharmonic, and St Petersburg Hermitage State Symphonies. His performances have been broadcast on radio and television on all continents, including National Public Radio's classical music show ''From the Top'' and NPO4<ref>{{cite web |title=BEKIJK: MOZARTWEEK - BEN KIM |url=https://www.nporadio4.nl/deklassieken/nieuws/3044-bekijk-mozartweek-ben-kim |publisher=NPO Radio 4 |accessdate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> in Holland.
==Awards== In September 2006, Kim won First Prize in the 55th ARD International Music Competition in Munich.<ref name="br-online.de"/>
In 2012, Kim was one of six recipients selected among a pool of more than 13,000 graduates at the Johns Hopkins University to be awarded an Outstanding Recent Graduate Award for outstanding achievement or service in any professional field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alumni.jhu.edu/awards/recentgrad|title=The Outstanding Recent Graduate Award {{!}} Johns Hopkins Alumni|website=alumni.jhu.edu|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
Kim was the recipient of the Rheingau Music Festival's 2017 LOTTO Career Development Prize.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rheingau-musik-festival.de/en/festival/lotto-foerderpreis/|title=LOTTO-Förderpreis {{!}} Rheingau Musik Festival 20.6. - September 5, 2020|website=www.rheingau-musik-festival.de|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref> The international jury panel made its decision upon the following stated reasons: "His brilliant technique and his incredible flair for interpretive refinement are self-evident....an exceptional phenomenon among pianists his generation - such a natural, sympathetic charisma and pleasant modesty, coupled with great virtuosity, are rarely experienced with a leading musician.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Rheingau Musik Festival: Förderpreis an Pianist Ben Kim |date=30 March 2017 |url=http://www.musik-heute.de/15334/pianist-ben-kim-erhaelt-foerderpreis-des-rheingau-musik-festivals/ |publisher=Musik Heute |accessdate=May 29, 2020}}</ref>
==Comments on Kim== * “In a music business not exactly lacking in pianists, Ben Kim belongs to that small group whose playing extends beyond brilliant keyboard magic and pleasing, beautiful sound. More so, Kim is a narrator who knows how to captivate his audience from first to last note," noted the Berliner Morgenpost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/article214807491/Ben-Kim-bietet-ein-sinnliches-Klangerlebnis.html|title=Ben Kim bietet ein sinnliches Klangerlebnis|last=Vogt|first=Mario Felix|date=July 10, 2018|website=www.morgenpost.de|language=de-DE|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref> *Legendary teacher and mentor Leon Fleisher exalted Kim for his "enormous potential for a first-class career."<ref name="Miami Music">{{cite news| last =Catala| first =Paul| title =Ben Kim| page =1| publisher =Miami News Times| date =October 25, 2006| url =http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2006-10-26/music/ben-kim/| accessdate =July 26, 2009 }}</ref> * His performance of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor in Baltimore, ''The Baltimore Sun'' reported, "Sparks were flying from the keyboard" with "power, precision, and feeling for the daunting score."<ref name="Miami Music" />
==Recordings== '''Works for solo piano by Chopin, Mozart and Debussy<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/SR/benkim/|title = ベン・キム | ソニーミュージックオフィシャルサイト}}</ref>'''
* Chopin Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35 "Funeral march" * Mozart Sonata in E-flat Major, K. 282 (189g) * Mozart Sonata No. 2 in F Major, K. 280 (189e) * Debussy Suite Bergamasque
Sony USA, Sony BMG Korea, Sony Music Japan International Inc.(Sony CLASSICAL)
'''Chopin Préludes and Impromptus'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/ben-kim/products/uccd-1344/|title=ショパン:前奏曲集&即興曲集 [SHM-CD][CD] - ベン・キム - UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN|website=ベン・キム|language=ja|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
Decca, Universal Music Group
Kim's recording was given an Editor's recommendation in November 2012 from the Japanese Record Geijutsu Magazine, stating, "without nervousness or over-excitement, without boasting technique or exaggeration, Kim plays Chopin's music as if he were breathing it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.concert.co.jp/news/detail/202/|title=NEWS - ニュース｜concert imagine|website=www.concert.co.jp|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
'''Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 17 and 23'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.challengerecords.com/products/15746834132922/|title=Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 23 - Ben Kim|last=International|first=Challenge Records|website=Challenge Records International|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
* Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453 * Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488
Recorded with Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
==References== {{More footnotes needed|date=July 2009}} {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090723163639/http://www.concert.co.jp/e_profile.html#Ben KIM Profile] *{{in lang|ko}} [http://cafe.daum.net/pfbenkim Fansite Korea] *{{in lang|ja}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20091013095904/http://www.concert.co.jp/artist/ben/profile.html Profile in Japanese] *{{in lang|ja}} [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/SR/benkim/ Sony Music Online Japan Official site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060905002104/http://www.portlandchamberorchestra.org/2005_2006_season/Best%20Buddies/benjamin%20kim.htm Portland Chamber Orchestra — Best Buddies — Benjamin Kim] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050414100730/http://www.fromthetop.org/radio/performers.cfm?pid=369 Fromthetop.org: Young Performers: Benjamin Kim] *[http://www.piano-e-competition.com/contestantbios04/benjaminkim.htm International Piano E-Competition 2004]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Benjamin}} Category:1983 births Category:21st-century American classical pianists Category:American male classical pianists Category:Lake Oswego High School alumni Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male pianists