Benjamin Kim

Benjamin "Ben" Kim is an American pianist, who won the 55th ARD International Music Competition in Munich, September 2006 (First prize). Biography Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Kim started studying the piano at age five with Dorothy Fahlman. At the age of eight, he performed his first public solo recital and his orchestral debut at twelve. At age 20, he finished an accelerated Bachelor of Music degree program at the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Leon Fleisher. He continued his studies at Peabody with Leon Fleisher together with Yong Hi Moon as a candidate for the Artist Diploma program. 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 Universität der Künste Berlin (UDK Berlin) with Klaus Hellwig He made his debut at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall with the Olympus Chamber Players in 2009 and at Suntory Hall in Tokyo in 2010. Kim has been presented in major halls throughout the world, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio, German Radio, Baltimore, Seoul Philharmonic, and St Petersburg Hermitage State Symphonies. His performances have been broadcast on radio and television on all continents, including National Public Radio's classical music show From the Top and NPO4 in Holland. Awards In September 2006, Kim won First Prize in the 55th ARD International Music Competition in Munich.