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Texu Kim

About this Artist

Texu (pronounced tech-soo) Kim (김택수, b.1980, he/him) writes music inspired by everyday experiences, music about modern (South) Korea, reflecting its multicultural nature, and music that is humorous yet sophisticated. His music also incorporates and expands Korean folk music elements and systems.

An impressive roster of ensembles and performers has programmed Kim’s music, including the LA Phil, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Philharmonia, Minnesota Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Oakland Symphony, the New World Symphony, National Orchestra of Korea, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony, UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Modern, Alarm Will Sound, Sejong Soloists, the New York Classical Players, Delirium Musicum, the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, Cardinal Singers, Verona Quartet, Bakken Ensemble, and many more. He was the Artist-in-Residence of the Busan Philharmonic in 2021. In 2014-16, he served as the Composer-in-Residence of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, and he launched its Composers’ Atelier program that commissions, mentors, and performs other Korean composers’ orchestral works.

An associate professor at San Diego State University, Kim has received awards and honors from the Fromm Music Foundation, the Barlow Prize, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Copland House, SCI/ASCAP, Ilshin Composition Prize, and Isang Yun International Composition Prize, in addition to winning a Silver Medal in the 1998 International Chemistry Olympiad. Kim earned his D.M. from Indiana University and prior degrees from Seoul National University.