About Helena Hyesoo Kim
Helena Hyesoo Kim, a Korean-Canadian pianist, has been praised for her “keys that dance around the frisky saw prowess in animated ways” (Take Effect). Her performances have taken her to major venues throughout the Netherlands, France, Russia, Spain, Korea, Canada, and the United States, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City and Severance Hall in Cleveland. She has appeared as a soloist with the Chopin Poland Orchestra and has received numerous prizes in national and international competitions, including first prize at the Korea Times Competition and the Russian Music Festival.
Kim has collaborated with distinguished musicians, including soprano Sumi Jo, trumpeter Jens Lindemann, and pianist Curtis Pavey. Her recording with saxophonist Todd Gaffke, Locally Sourced, was released by Neuma Records. She continues to collaborate actively with musicians through a wide range of solo and chamber music projects.
An advocate for music by underrepresented composers, Kim is committed to bringing greater attention to compelling works that deserve to be heard but have long been neglected. Her repertoire particularly highlights contemporary and women composers, including Caroline KyungA Ahn, Alexina Louie, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Galina Ustvolskaya. Her doctoral research examined unifying elements in Ustvolskaya’s piano sonatas and the cultural and political circumstances surrounding her music. Through her performances, research, and teaching, Kim continues to illuminate overlooked repertoire and bring these distinctive musical voices to wider audiences.
Beyond performance and research, Kim brings an entrepreneurial approach to her work as a musician. She curates distinctive concert programs that connect overlooked repertoire with contemporary audiences while contributing to arts administration and community engagement. She shares these experiences with emerging musicians through her teaching in arts entrepreneurship and career development, helping students develop the practical, creative, and administrative skills necessary to build meaningful careers in music.
As an educator and scholar, Kim has presented at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the MTNA National Conference, and conferences of The College Music Society. She has also contributed to webinars presented by the Frances Clark Center.
Kim received her early musical training at Yewon Art School and the Saint Petersburg Pre-Conservatory. She continued her studies at the University of British Columbia and McGill University, where she studied with Kyoko Hashimoto, and earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati under Ran Dank. Kim currently teaches piano, music entrepreneurship, and career development at the University of Missouri and serves as vice president of the board of the Odyssey Chamber Music Series.
