Elaine Kim discovered her love for piano at the early age of six. By 2001, her piano world was changed when she watched a jazz performance for the first time in her life. At that point, she made the decision to embark on a journey to become a jazz pianist.
While she went on to performing in many venues around Korea, her zeal for the style of music urged her to seek places for even greater jazz immersion—that place was New York City. Elaine has studied with jazz legend Jim Ridl and recorded her own songs with world renowned drummer Tim Horner and bassist Tom DiCarlo.
When she isn’t busy performing and recording, she is busy teaching students of her own or studying at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where she has been honored with a Full scholarship. Elaine graduated from the Seoul Jazz Academy in Korea with a focus in Jazz Piano Performance.
Elaine has performed in many major jazz festivals, concerts and venues. Some of her engagements have included the Se-Jong Center for the Performance Arts, Korean Pop Awards, FIFA World Cup Opening Show 2006, KBS Television, MBC Television, Seoul Grand Park, Seoul Inter-Continental Hotel, the Jazz Quartet, the HyoJin Kim Trio, and Make a Wish Concert in New York City. She also participated in many jazz club jam sessions with other talented musicians in venues like Cleopatra’s Needle Jazz Club, 55th Bar and Kitano.
As a seasoned jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and teacher, Elaine’s wide range of experience offers her a wealth of musical and creative perspectives. Keeping her senses open, she always strives to communicate and connect with everything she sees, hears and touches with the chance of recreating them in her music. Meanwhile, as Elaine carries on exploring her own interpretations of jazz, she continues to inspire and share her passion with others through her compositions, performances and teaching. She is looking forward to the debut of her album.
Ms. Elaine Kim has joined the afculty of the Piano School of NYC in 2010. |
