Dr. Chaerin Kim will attempt to perform four artistic roles within a single orchestral performance when she visits in October.
Chaerin Kim
See her: Oct. 4 with Symphonicity
Site: Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach, sandlercenter.org
Style: Classical
By Butch Maier
She took some time ahead of her arrival for a quick Q&A.
Coastal Virginia Magazine: You are a harp soloist, piano soloist, conductor, and composer. How long have you been performing each role?
Chaerin Kim: “I have been playing the piano since I was 6 years old and the harp since I was 17. I began composing when I was 12 and started conducting at 13. Looking back, each of these paths developed naturally over time. Although they began independently, they gradually became interconnected and now represent different expressions of the same artistic identity.”
CVM: Which of the four roles comes most naturally to you? Which is most challenging, and why?
Kim: “To me, all four roles are deeply connected. They are different in many ways, yet they all pursue the same goal—the beauty of music. Because of that, each role has always felt natural to me, which is why I chose to pursue all of them. Composition feels natural because it begins with imagination. I compose very spontaneously. Whenever a melody comes into my mind, I immediately record it before it disappears. Many of my compositions have begun this way. The piano feels natural because it was my first instrument. It became my musical language from an early age. The harp also feels natural, although choosing it surprised many people. My teachers encouraged me to continue focusing solely on piano, but I was captivated by the unique beauty of the harp’s sound. I simply fell in love with the instrument and wanted to devote myself to it. Conducting is different because it requires seeing the complete musical picture. A conductor must understand every instrument, every line of the score, and communicate the composer’s artistic vision to the orchestra.”
CVM: When did you start thinking about attempting to serve in all four artistic roles within one orchestral concert?
Kim: “The idea developed gradually rather than appearing all at once. Throughout my life, opportunities simply kept coming….Based on research conducted by music critics, colleagues, historians, and members of the recording industry, this 2026 concert is believed to be the first documented attempt in music history in which a single artist simultaneously performs the four artistic roles of piano concerto soloist, harp concerto soloist, conductor, and composer within a single orchestral performance.”
CVM: What have you had to do to prepare for such an undertaking?
Kim: “Preparation begins in the mind. Before I practice a single note, I spend time imagining the complete artistic picture. I ask myself whether this is the repertoire I truly want to share this year, whether these pieces belong together, and how I hope the audience will experience the musical journey. Once that vision becomes clear, everything else follows naturally. Preparing both harp and piano presents unique physical challenges. Each instrument develops calluses in different places and requires different hand positions, so moving back and forth between them is not always comfortable. Sometimes my fingers even feel numb because the techniques are so different….As both composer and conductor, I study every detail of every score—not only my own composition, but the entire orchestral program—to create a unified musical atmosphere that remains in the audience’s hearts long after the concert ends.”
CVM: What do you imagine you will feel when the concert is over?
Kim: “My first feeling will probably be gratitude. A performance like this is never the achievement of one person alone. It depends on the orchestra, the production team, the audience, colleagues, family, supporters, and everyone who believed in the project. Above all, my deepest gratitude will be to God, who has guided every step of my journey.”
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Schedule
SEPTEMBER
Mahler’s Titan Symphony with Eric Jacobsen
See it: Sept. 10, CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News; Sept. 13, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.
Showcasing: Eric Jacobsen, conductor; Jeffrey Kahane, piano.
Brahm’s Horn Trio
See it: Sept. 12, Peebles Theatre, CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News.
Showcasing: Grace Park, violin; Jacob Wilder, horn; Jeffrey Kahane, piano.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & Philip Glass’s Lincoln Symphony
See it: Sept. 25, CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News; Sept. 27, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.
Showcasing: Eric Jacobsen, conductor; Simon Porter, violin; Davóne Tines, bass-baritone.
OCTOBER
Amadeus Live
See it: Oct. 10, Harrison Opera House, Norfolk.
Showcasing: Brett Mitchell, conductor; Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Mozart’s Gran Partita
See it: Oct. 16, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk; Oct. 18, William & Mary Music Arts Center, Williamsburg.
Showcasing: Naima Burrs, conductor; Minha Kim, flute; Rachel Ordaz, piccolo; Alex Mayer, oboe; Michael Byerly, clarinet; Laura Leisring, bassoon; Jacob Wilder, horn; Alexis Colner, harp.
John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Iconic Film Scores
See it: Oct. 23, CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News; Oct. 25, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach.
Showcasing: Evan Roider, conductor; Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus; Helen Martell, conductor.
