B.M., M.M., Chonnam National University; M.M., Artist Diploma, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; D.M.A., University of Texas at Austin
Kihwa Kim is a versatile collaborative pianist who is well-versed in the areas of vocal and instrumental music. Dr. Kim has built a professional career as an opera/vocal coach, working with several opera companies including Arizona Opera, Opera NEO, Hungarian State Opera, Dayton Opera, First Coast Opera, Chonnam National University (Gwangju, South Korea), Knoxville Opera, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Kangsookja Opera Line (Gwangju, South Korea). Along with her experience as an opera/vocal coach, she served on the faculty of Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA (2021). In addition, she held the position of staff pianist at Northern Kentucky University (2014-2016) and orchestra pianist at City of Mokpo Symphony Orchestra (Mokpo, South Korea, 2007-2009).
Dr. Kim is an alumnus of the Music Academy of the West, where she received the Vocal Piano Fellowship Award (2017, 2018). She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano at the University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music with Colette Valentine and Tamara Sanikidze. She also received her Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching and a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Marie-France Lefebvre and Kenneth Griffiths. Before her studies in the United States, Kim earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance at the Chonnam National University with Hyunok Moon, where she was appointed the President’s Merit Award as the top graduate of the College of Arts.