Sung Jin Kim
Sung Jin Kim is the founder and leader of both Gran Guitar Quintet and Gran Guitar Ensemble.
He graduated from Seoul Art High School. Afterward, he studied with Reinbert Evers at the Hochschule fur Musik in Munster and the Hochschule fur Musik in Detmold, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and taught undergraduates.
As an active concert and chamber musician, Kim has made regular appearances in Korea, Japan, China, Germany, Italy, and the United States. He is renowned for his wide-ranging repertoire, which spans early music to the 21st century. He has performed as half of a guitar duo (with Reibert Evers) and the Creo Duo for guitar and violin, and is also a member of the ensemble La Mer et L’lle.
Kim is in high demand as a masterclass teacher. During the summers he teaches at the Guitar Class in Veneto and the Terni Masterclasses in Italy. He has also been invited as a guest musician and lecturer at the ICon Arts Contemporary Music Festival in Romania and the Shim-Yang International Guitar Festival in China. He taught at Seoul National University and is currently teaching at the Korea National Conservatory of Music and Seoul Art High School.
His awards include first prize from the Daejun-ilbo National Guitar Competition and second prize from the Chain European Contemporary Music Competition.
Kim’s career has also been dedicated to educating children in need. He frequently visits small villages and gives charity concerts. In 2014, he founded a non-profit organization, World Children Culture Center, which helps him share his musical talent.