American pianist Ben Kim’s performances have been celebrated as what the Süddeutsche Zeitung called “practically euphoric and filled with vitality” and have gained an increasing reputation for an exciting sensibility and integrity. The first prize winner of the 55th ARD International Music Competition for Piano has garnered critical acclaim for his performances worldwide, at renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Musikverein, Gewandhaus, Suntory Hall, and the Kennedy Center with symphony orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio, German Radio, Leipzig, Baltimore, Kyushu, Seoul, and St Petersburg Hermitage State Symphony Orchestras.
In 2017 Ben Kim was the recipient of the Rheingau Music Festival’s LOTTO Career Development Prize. The international jury stated: “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 in a leading musician.” In 2012 he 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.
Ben’s recording of the Chopin Préludes and Impromptus released on Universal Decca was given an Editor’s Choice selection by Record Geijutsu. “Without nervousness or over-excitement, without boasting technique or exaggeration,” the critic describes of the album, “Kim plays Chopin’s music as if he were breathing it.” He has additional recordings out on Sony Classical and Klavier-Festival Ruhr labels featuring works by his favorite composers, including Mozart, Debussy and Schumann. Ben’s most recent recordings of Mozart Piano Concertos (Nos. 11-13, 17, 23-25) with the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra on Challenge Records have also been critically acclaimed.
Ben has been presented at international festivals, including Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Festspielen Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rheingau Musik Festival, Kissinger Summer, Bonn Schumann Festival, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, EuroArt Prague, Ravinia and Aspen Music Festivals.
Ben was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where he began studying piano at age five with Dorothy Fahlman. Ben received his Bachelor’s degree at the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Leon Fleisher and continued his studies with Yong Hi Moon. 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. He finished his studies at the Berlin University of Arts with Klaus Hellwig.
Ben is a longtime member of the German Alpine Society (Deutsche Alpenverein) and resides in Berlin.
