Violinist Minji Kim will perform with the orchestra in March 2024
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) has announced that violinist and Skyline High School student Minji Kim, 16, is the winner of its 2023 Young Artist Competition.
Four finalists competed on Saturday, October 14 at Eastern Michigan University, with the winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the A2SO’s Link Up youth concert, presented in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.
“I’m very grateful to have received this award,” says Minji, a junior at Skyline High School. “Performing with a professional orchestra is one of the biggest honors I can have as a student musician, so I’m very happy and grateful that I was able to receive this opportunity.”
Applications were open to students in grades 7-12 who attended school in the state of Michigan. The competition jury was composed of A2SO orchestra members, and the panelists praised the outstanding level of performance demonstrated by all of the finalists.
Minji began studying the violin at age 4 with her mother. She currently studies with Professor Aaron Berofsky at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance, and previously received instruction from Jeff Thayer, concertmaster of the San Diego Symphony. Winner of several competitions, Minji placed first at the Rosalie Edwards Youth Music Competition and has participated in the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, Indiana University Strings Academy, and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. A performer at a number of prestigious venues including Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York, Minji plays on a 2011 Douglas C. Cox violin, granted to her as a scholarship from the VIRTU Foundation.
“I credit my success to my teacher, Professor Aaron Berofsky for leading me to bring out my best performance, to my collaborative pianist Ms. Naki Sung Kripfgans for helping me settle into the music, to my parents for giving me a place to practice comfortably, and finally I want to thank my younger brother, who gave up his own practice time to let me practice,” says Minji.
Outside of music, Minji assists in teaching Korean language and culture to young children at the Korean School of Ann Arbor. She also enjoys school and spending time with her family.
Cellist and Okemos High School Junior Kevin Baek was selected as runner-up, receiving a $500 cash prize.
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