As an educator, Dr. Kim is committed to helping pianists become well-rounded musicians, independent learners, and effective problem-solvers. A sought-after collaborator, Dr. Kim has performed extensively with singers and instrumentalists in various settings.
Dr. Yeon-Kyung Kim is a versatile pianist, educator, and entrepreneur whose work spans teaching, chamber music, and community-driven musical initiatives. She joins the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, where she teaches applied piano lessons and serves as a collaborative pianist for choirs, vocalists, and instrumentalists across the department. She is also the founder and director of Glow Music, a nonprofit dedicated to commissioning underrepresented composers and connecting young performers with local communities.
As an educator, Dr. Kim is committed to helping pianists become well-rounded musicians, independent learners, and effective problem-solvers. Her teaching experience includes faculty positions at Western Illinois University and DePauw University, along with roles at community schools and summer programs such as the Rollins Summer Piano Academy and the Classical Arts Program. She also taught secondary piano at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she built a strong pedagogical foundation.
A sought-after collaborator, Dr. Kim has performed extensively with singers and instrumentalists in recitals, chamber concerts, conferences, and outreach settings. Recent and upcoming engagements include an album recording with hornists Thomas and Tricia Jöstlein (St. Louis Symphony Orchestra), and performances with soprano Dr. Janani Sridhar and trombonist Megumi Kanda. She is a founding member of the 10 Degree Trio, an ensemble exploring new and traditional works for horn, trombone, and piano.
Dr. Kim is also the founder and director of Glow Music, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that commissions and promotes works by historically underrepresented composers while showcasing young performers in community-friendly venues. Since its founding in 2022, Glow Music has presented live and virtual concerts, commissioned new works, and partnered with local schools, churches, and organizations to broaden access to contemporary music. www.glowmusic.live
In addition to her performance and teaching work, Dr. Kim is active as a presenter, adjudicator, and arts advocate. She has presented at the Music Teachers National Association, the College Music Society, and institutions including the University of Missouri and DePauw University, sharing insights on pedagogy, music entrepreneurship, and Korean art songs. Her writing appears in American Music Teacher and the MTNA e-Journal.
Dr. Kim holds a D.M.A. in Piano Performance (Pedagogy cognate) from CCM, along with degrees from the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and Seoul National University (cum laude). Her principal teachers include James Tocco, Emile Naoumoff, Christopher Harding, Aviram Reichert, and Gyehwa Kim. www.yeonkyungkim.com