In June 2022, Korean/American Soprano Dr. Joanna Hyunji Kim held her debut recital at Carnegie Hall, wrapping up with a “well-deserved standing ovation.” New York Concert Review praised her: “Dr. Joanna Kim’s voice is rich and powerful, has impeccable musicianship, and sensitive but intense interpretation of her text.”
She has performed internationally with orchestra and concert piano, including in the USA, South Korea, and numerous European countries, such as Italy, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, and Graz, Austria.
Born in the US but raised in South Korea, Dr. Kim adores both cultures and desires to advocate Korean art songs in the States. Her doctoral lecture-recital on Korean diction and art song was nominated for the Lecture Recital Prize at Eastman School of Music in 2018. She presented another lecture recital on a similar topic at the Harvard Graduate Music Forum Conference in February 2020 and recently at Robert Wesleyan University in October 2023. Dr. Kim continues her musical journey as an active performer around Upstate New York and shares the beauty of this art form.
She believes every culture has its own uniqueness but also shares similarities as people share emotions. Finding the core emotion of a song, interpreting the text through her lens, communicating with the audience, and being a bridge to many cultures is her utmost dedication when she prepares for a concert.
As a passionate teacher, Dr. Kim enjoys teaching vocal music to people of all ages, ethnicities, and musical levels. She instructed secondary voice students at Eastman and the University of Rochester as a selected master’s student and throughout her doctoral studies. Moreover, she was awarded the Teaching Assistant Prize for Excellence in Teaching in May of 2019 due, in part, to her ability to accurately assess and then technically guide each student to their personal best. While accommodating individual needs, her primary focus is to foster healthy vocal technique and to encourage each singer to think critically as they discover their true voices–singing into their potential in both the classical and musical theater genres.
Dr. Kim currently teaches at Eastman Community Music School and the Mongolian International University as a Lecturer in the Music Education department. In 2021, she founded Senoreh Music Foundation, which focuses on restoring the Biblical perspective with artistic excellence in the field of music.
Education Credentials
DMA ,Voice Performance and Literature; Minor in Vocal Pedagogy, Eastman School of Music
MM, Voice Performance and Literature, Eastman School of Music
MM, Music Education, Vocal Concentration, Eastman School of Music
BM, Vocal Performance, Ewha Womans University
Teaching and Singing Sample Videos
Testimonials
“As an adult learner, Joanna has been so helpful in learning my voice! She makes me feel safe to make mistakes while I learn how to apply the material, and she explains things in a way that just clicks. She’s very passionate about her work and it makes our lessons that much more fruitful and fun!” – Amanda Wehrman
“Music is my greatest passion in life, and finding the right teacher was incredibly important to me. From the moment I read about Dr. Kim’s teaching philosophy, I felt a strong connection. Dr. Kim is exceptional at individualizing each lesson and tailoring both the course and repertoire to fit my unique voice and goals. One of the things I value most is how she gently but consistently pushes me beyond my comfort zone. Through this, I have discovered abilities I didn’t even know I had! One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been exploring my voice across the different languages I speak, while incorporating a multicultural approach into our lessons. By connecting my natural speaking voice—especially in my native language—to my singing, she has helped me understand my voice on a much deeper level and unlock new levels of control and expression. Our work together has also had a powerful impact beyond music, particularly in my professional life, where I speak frequently with patients, navigate emotionally complex conversations with families, and give hour-long presentations.In many ways, these lessons have also become a form of weekly therapy—an opportunity to reconnect with myself, take care of my well-being, and nurture my passion for music. I am incredibly grateful to be her student, and I cannot recommend her highly enough!” – Dr. Jinia El-Feghaly