Introduction

A multi-instrumentalist and one of the very few people in the world who you can see performing as a soloist with two instruments on the same stage as an orchestra, internationally-acclaimed harpist, pianist, composer, and professor, Dr. Chaerin Kim is the winner of 12 national and international competitions in America, England, Russia, and Korea. She has been a judge 73 times at 35 international competitions in the US, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Canada, Italy, Germany, Austria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Japan, and Australia. She plays 10 instruments: piano, harp, violin, viola, cello, harpsichord, accordion, guitar, ukulele, and drums.

In January 2024, she has been elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London (ARAM).

Judging criteria and tips for competitors, from this interview with Dr. Chaerin Kim, harpist, pianist, composer and jury member of the International String and Chamber Music Competition:

Studies

Dr. Kim’s musical studies began when she was six years old. She majored in piano at Yewon Music Middle School, while also beginning studies in cello and voice.

After Yewon, she went on to attend Kaywon High School of Arts, where she continued to major in piano.

Dr. Kim’s Education

In her last year, at the age of eighteen, she also started lessons on harp, and six months later won the Soloist Audition for Harp. She received her B.A. with Highest Honors from Ewha University in Seoul – then, while pursuing her master’s degree at Ewha, she was offered a scholarship for a Pg.D at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she graduated with distinction.

Chaerin Kim received her M.M. from Yale University. She was invited to the Artist’s Diploma program at Yale and Graduate Diploma Program at the New England Conservatory – however, she decided to pursue her doctorate at Boston University, where she was offered a full scholarship. She was the “quickest recipient of a Doctorate” in BU Music School’s history, completing it in three and a half years.

• Boston University, USA – DMA in Harp Performance, with Department Honor Award, Full Scholarship Recipient with the CFA Award; Minor in Piano; “Quickest recipient of doctorate in BU School of Music history” | September 2005- January 2009
• Yale University, USA – M.M. in Harp Performance | 2003-2005
• Royal Academy of Music in London, England – PgD in Harp Performance: graduated with “Distinction”; Awarded scholarship for two years | 2001-2003
• Ewha University, Korea – M.M. in Harp Performance | 2001
• Ewha University, Korea – B.A. in Harp Performance – graduated with “Highest Honors” | 1997-2001
• Shepherd’s Heart School of Music, Florida, USA – Accordion and Drum | 2022-2023
• Kaywon High School of Music, Korea – Major in Piano & Harp | 1994-1997
• Yewon Middle School of Music, Korea – Major in Piano | 1991-1994

Awards & Prizes

She was the winner of the Special Prize of Best Performance of Russian Music at the International Harp Competition in Russia; winner of the Future Classic Women Award from the London Radio Station as a harpist and a composer; the CFA Award and Department Honor Award from Boston University; the Garrett Award, Foundation Award, and Julia Leney Harp Prize in London; a three-time winner of Soloist Competitions at Ewha University, Kaywon School for the Arts, and Boston University; the Bronze Medalist for Solo Piano at the Walgan Music Competition; and winner of the Grand Prize from the Korean Students Newspaper.

Awards and Prizes

• Winner, Future Classic Women Awards, London Radio Station, United Kingdom | 2020
• Winner, Soloist Competition, Boston University, United States | 2008
• Recipient, Department Honor Award, Boston University, United States | 2008
• Winner, Best Performance in Russian Music, International Harp Competition, Russia | 2005
• Recipient of the CFA Award, Boston, U.S.A | 2005
• Winner, M.A. Garrett Award, United Kingdom | 2003
• Winner, Foundation Award, United Kingdom | 2002
• Winner, Julia Leney Harp Prize, United Kingdom | 2002
• Winner, Soloist Competition, Ewha University, Korea | 1998
• Winner, Soloist Competition at Kaywon High School, Korea | 1996
• Grand Prize Winner, Korean Student’s Newspaper Music Competition as a Solo Pianist, Korea | 1989
• Bronze Medalist, Walgan Music Competition as a Solo Pianist, Korea | 1987

Artistic activity of Chaerin Kim

She has been featured as a soloist on both harp and piano, some of her performances have included Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Debussy’s Danses for Harp, Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto with UMB Orchestra; Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Boston Chamber Orchestra; Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with BU Symphony Orchestra; Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with Seongnam Philharmonic; Guest Soloist of the International Music Festival broadcast live in Korea; Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and Debussy’s Danses with Yonsei Sinfonietta; and Pierné’s Harp Concerto with EU Orchestra. Her harp performance has been used for the British movie Kaleidoscope, (main actor Toby Jones), which was the winner of Best Performance at the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Compositions

As a composer, Chaerin Kim’s composition, Rendezvous, has 100 versions, including versions for orchestra, harp, piano, and voice, with lyrics written by her and translated into 80 different languages. The orchestral version of Rendezvous had its World Premiere in Boston, Massachusetts, and its Venezuela Premiere by National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela.

To date, she has released 146 songs (7 Albums and 91 Singles), and her music has aired on the radio stations in US and UK. Most recently, she was nominated for and awarded a Future Classic Women Award through the London Radio Station, where she has been interviewed twice. She has also been interviewed by WCPE Radio in the US.

Activity as competitions’ judge

As a judge and jurist, Dr. Kim was the artistic director of the USA International Music Competition in 2010, and between 2021 and 2025, she is scheduled to judge 73 times at 35 international competitions for a multitude of categories, including harp, piano, all instruments, composition, and singers. She has also been the chair of harp judges at Global Musical Arts Competition in California.

International Competition Judging

• European Classical Music Awards – Classical Music Artists Award in UK,  for All Instruments and Composition | 2023
• Stockholm International Music Competition in Sweden, for Harp and Piano | 2022, 2023, 2024
• Liszt International Music Competition in Italy, for Harp, and Piano | 2023
• Global Musical Arts Competition in California, Chair of Harp Judges | 2023, 2024
• Classic Pure Vienna International Music Competition in Austria, for All Instruments, Composition, and Singers | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• InterContinental Music Awards in America, for Piano, Strings, and Soundtrack | 2023, 2024
• Manchester International Music Competition in UK, for All Instruments and Composition | 2023
• Scandinavian International Instrumental Music Competition in Finland, for Harp | 2023
• Melbourne International Piano and Strings Competition in Australia, for Harp and Piano | 2022
• Wiener International Music Competition in Austria, for Piano and Harp | 2023
• Best Classical Musicians Awards in London, for All Instruments and Composition | 2023
• Charleston International Music Competition in South Carolina, for All Instruments | 2023, 2024
• Global Genius Music Competition in UK,  for All Instruments and Composition | 2023
• Savshinsky Competition in Russia, for Harp | 2023, 2024
• World Online Music Competitions Federation in London, for All Instruments and Composition | 2023, 2024
• JSFest International Instrumental Music Competition in Finland, for Piano and Harp | 2021, 2022, 2023
• International Strings & Chamber Music Competition in Romania, for Harp | 2023
• International Youth Music Competition in Atlanta, for Harp, Composition, and Grand Final | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Amigdala International Music Competition in Sicily – Italy, for Harp | 2023
• Musical South Palmyra in Ukraine, for Piano and Harp | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Royal Sound Music Competition in Canada, for Harp | 2022, 2023, 2024
• Unsigned Only Music Competition in Tennessee, for Finalists-Instrumentalists and Christian Music | 2023, 2024, 2025
• Best Classical Musicians Awards in London, for Piano and Harp | 2023
• Music Modern in Ukraine, for Piano and Harp | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• World Vision Music Contest in Germany, for Piano and Harp | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• King’s Peak International Music Competition in California, for Piano, Harp, Xylophone, and Harpsichord | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Basel International Music Competition in Switzerland and Japan, for Harp | 2023
• Danubia International Music Competition in Hungary, for All Instruments | 2021, 2022, 2023
• International Music Competition in Serbia, for Harp, and Grand Final | 2021, 2022
• London Young Musician competition in UK for All Instruments, Composition, and Singers | 2023
• Rocky Mountain Music Competition in Canada, for Harp | 2022, 2023, 2024
• Music International Grand Prix in New York, for Piano, Harp, and Strings | 2021, 2022, 2023
• Rising Star International Arts Competition in Indiana, for Piano | 2023
• Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition in Canada, for All Instruments | 2021
• USA International Music Competition in Boston, as Artistic Director | 2010

Dr. Kim’s teaching activity

Dr. Chaerin Kim was the music faculty at Eastern Nazarene College, where she taught harp, piano, music theory, and music history classes. She was also the former Head of the Harp Department at Adagio Music Academy, South Shore Conservatory, and an artistic director of USA International Music Competition. Currently, she is an artist with the TTF Entertainment company in China, piano faculty at Shepherd’s Heart School of Music in Florida, and a music faculty of harp and piano at University of Massachusetts Boston, Schlossakademie in Germany, and through the Office of Arts at Harvard University.

Teaching Positions

• Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London (ARAM) January 2024 – Present
• Piano Faculty, Shepard’s Heart School of Music, Florida | January 2023 – Present
• Piano & Harp Faculty, Schlossakademie, Germany | January 2021 – Present
• Artist at TTF Entertainment Company in China | Dec 2020 – Present
• Piano Faculty, University of Massachusetts Boston | January 2014 – Present
• Harp Faculty, University of Massachusetts Boston | January 2012 – Present
• Music History, Music Theory, Harp & Piano Faculty, Eastern Nazarene College, Massachusetts | January 2012 – August 2018
• Composition, Piano & Harp Teacher, Beechwood Knoll Elementary School, Massachusetts | 2011 – 2013
• Harp and Piano Instructor through the Office of Arts at Harvard University | Sep 2010 – Present
• Artistic Director of the USA International Music Competition | Sep 2009- Sep 2010
• Harp Department Chair, South Shore Conservatory, Massachusetts | 2009 – 2013
• Harp Faculty, Youth & Muse International Music Festival, Massachusetts | August 2012
• Educational Consultant, Musical Journey II | 2009 – 2010
• Head of Harp Department, Piano Faculty, Adagio Music Academy, Massachusetts | 2009
• Teaching Assistant, Boston University, Massachusetts | 2008
• Teaching Assistant, Yale University, Connecticut | 2005

Masterclass Speaker / Guest Faculty

• Visiting Piano Professor, Madras Music College, India | 2019
• Piano & Harp Masterclass, KM Music College, India | 2019
• Piano Masterclass, Strings Music Academy, India | 2019
• Piano Masterclass, Loyola College, India | 2018
• Piano Masterclass, University of Massachusetts Boston | 2017
• Harp Masterclass, Eastern Nazarene College, Massachusetts | 2011
• Artist-in-Residence, Quincy Public Schools, Massachusetts | 2011

Solo Performances with Orchestra

• Venezuela Premiere of own composition, Rendezvous, with National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela | 2023
• World Premiere of own composition, Rendezvous, with University of Massachusetts Boston Chamber Orchestra | 2018
• Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with University of Massachusetts Boston Chamber Orchestra | 2018
• Claude Debussy’s Danses with University of Massachusetts Boston Orchestra | 2014
• Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Boston Chamber Soloists | 2014
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto with University of Massachusetts Boston Orchestra | 2012
• Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with Boston University Symphony Orchestra, as winner of the Soloist Competition | 2008
• Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto with Seongnam Philharmonic, as Guest Soloist of the International Music Festival in Korea, broadcast live in Korea | 2007
• Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro with Yonsei Sinfonietta, as Guest Soloist | 2000
• Claude Debussy’s Danses with Yonsei Sinfonietta, as Guest Soloist | 2000
• Gabriel Pierné’s Harp Concerto with Ewha University Orchestra, as winner of the Soloist Competition | 1998

Solo Performances of Chaerin Kim

• Albert Zabel’s Marguerite douloureuse au rouet for the British film Kaleidoscope, film won Best Performance at the Edinburgh International Film Festival | 2017
• World Premiere of David Patterson’s “And David took an harp,” written for Chaerin Kim, Boston, Massachusetts | 2016
• George Frideric Handel’s Messiah on Harpsichord, Quincy, Massachusetts | 2013
• World Premiere of People Town, composed by Michael Maganuco, Boston, Massachusetts | 2008
• Concert Hall, Boston University | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• World Premiere, Fairy Tale Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, written for Chaerin Kim by Ivana Lisak, Boston, Massachusetts | 2007
• Live Performances on Radio & TV, Seoul, Korea | 2007
• Three Chamber Concert Performances at Seiji Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood Music Festival, Lenox, Massachusetts | 2006
• Harkness Hall & Sprague Hall, Yale University | 2004, 2005
• Live Performances on Radio & TV, Moscow, Russia | 2005
• Lexington, Massachusetts | 2005
• Harp Ensemble & Harp Duo on Wales National TV, United Kingdom | 2003
• Salvi Concert, London, United Kingdom | 2002, 2003
• Royal Academy of Music, London, England | 2003
• Chosun Newspaper Young Musician Concert, Korea | 2001
• Ewha University, Seoul, Korea | 2001
• Seoul Baroque Music Course, Seoul, Korea | 2000
• Seoul Art Hall, Seoul, Korea | 2000
• Duet with Teacher in Young-san Art Hall, Seoul, Korea | 1999
• Department’s Honorable Student Concert, Ewha University, Seoul, Korea | 1997
• Spring Concert, featured as Best Performer of the Year, Kaywon High School, Seongnam, Korea | 1996
• Final Concert of Susann McDonald Music Course, Villars, Switzerland | 1995
• Solo Pianist, Korea Young Musician Festival, Seoul, Korea | 1990

Music Festivals

• Soloist, Korean International Music Festival, Seoul, Korea | 2007
• Fellow, Tanglewood Music Festival, Lenox, Massachusetts | 2006
• World Harp Congress, Dublin, Ireland | 2005
• Fellow, Seoul Baroque Music Course, Seoul, Korea | 2000
• Soloist, Summer Harp Festival, Switzerland | 1995
• Soloist, Korean Young Musician Festival, Seoul, Korea | 1990

Chaerin Kim was Principal Harpist Orchestral with

• Boston Cantata Singers, maestro David Hoose, Boston, Massachusetts | 2007 – 2010
• Waltham Symphony, Waltham, Massachusetts | 2009
• Boston University Symphony, Boston, Massachusetts | 2005 – 2008
• Boston College Symphony, Boston, Massachusetts | 2008
• Boston Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts | 2006 – 2007
• Boston University Symphony at Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York | 2006
• Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, maestro James Levine, Lenox, Massachusetts | 2005
• Yale Philharmonic, maestro Shin Ik Ham, New Haven, Connecticut | 2003 – 2005
• Russian Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York | 2004
• Royal Academy of Music Philharmonic, London, United Kingdom | 2001 – 2003
• Ewha University Symphony, maestro Taek Ju Lee, Seoul, Korea | 1997 – 2000
• Korean Broadcasting System National Symphony Orchestra, Seoul, Korea | 1998 – 1999
• Seoul Youth Symphony Orchestra, Seoul, Korea | 1998

Conducting

• Conductor and Artist-in-Residence, Silversounds Orchestra, Beechwood Knoll School, Quincy, Massachusetts | 2011
• Choir Conductor, Quincy Presbyterian Church, Quincy, Massachusetts | 2011
• Conductor, Yewon Art Middle School Choir | 1994

Piano Accompanist

• Accompanist for choir concerts and students’ juries, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts | 2014 – 2019
• Pianist, New Haven Korean Church, Hamden, Connecticut | 2003 – 2005
• Pianist, Korean Chang Jo Church, Seoul, Korea | 1996 – 2001

Voice

• First Soprano, Florida First Baptist Church Choir, Kissimmee, Florida | 2020 – 2023
• Sang Rendezvous in 80 languages | 2013 – 2018
• Alto, Korean Church of Boston Choir, Boston, Massachusetts | 2006 – 2010
• First Soprano, Yale Glee Club, New Haven, Connecticut | 2003 – 2005

Compositions

• Rendezvous, written in multiple instrumentations, including orchestra, harp, piano, and voice – in 80 languages | 2013
• The Fireworks, written for solo piano | 2006
• The Variation, written for solo piano | 2005

Arrangements

• Giovanni Battista Pescetti’s Sonata in C minor, for flute & harp | 2007

Recordings

• 146 Songs were released – 7 Albums with 55 songs, and 91 Singles
• 7 albums and 91 singles
  • Blessed Assurance | May 26, 2020
  • Felicity | January 1, 2020
  • Touching a Raindrop | July 19, 2017
  • Mellifluous | May 8, 2015
  • Rendezvous: Instrumental Collection | May 8, 2013
  • A Dedicated Poem | February 2, 2010
  • 11-Year-Old Plays the Piano | May 5, 1990
  • 91 Singles | 2002 – 2020

More information at:

• https://www.chaerinkim.com/blog/;
• https://albaciudad.org/2025/05/invitan-al-concierto-rendezvous-con-la-destacada-maestra-chaerin-kim-de-corea-del-sur-y-la-ofn/
• https://albaciudad.org/2025/05/la-orquesta-filarmonica-nacional-y-el-sistema-recibieron-la-visita-internacional-de-la-pianista-chaerin-kim