Jun-yong Kim
conductor
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR - WASHINGTON CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
MUSIC DIRECTOR, UWM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CONDUCTING & DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAL ACTIVITIES
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE
“Jun Kim conducted Ravel’s challenging, jazzy score with snappy energy and a terrific ear for detail...”
“... emotions spilled wondrously over into a performance...conducted by Jun Kim...”
About
Korean-American conductor Jun-yong Kim is widely recognized for his expressive clarity, collaborative artistry, and ability to draw deeply engaging performances from both professional and university orchestras. Praised for his “snappy energy and terrific ear for detail” (Milwaukee Magazine) and “stylish support” (Baltimore Sun) on a Schumann Cello Concerto recording, Kim has steadily built a reputation as a compelling musical leader across symphonic and operatic stages in North America and Europe.
As Music Director of the UWM Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director and Conductor of the Washington Chamber Orchestra (WCO), Kim has shaped a distinctive artistic vision rooted in excellence, inclusivity, and community engagement. Under his leadership, WCO is completing a full Beethoven Symphony Cycle, presented a sold-out concert with pianist Seong-Jin Cho, and partnered with Nurit Bar-Josef (Concertmaster, National Symphony Orchestra) for a benefit concert for Ukrainian refugees. Other highlights include a critically acclaimed performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Alex Kerr (Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Mark Kosower (Principal Cello, Cleveland Orchestra), and Min Kwon (Steinway Artist). Kim also collaborated with Yekwon Sunwoo (Van Cliburn Gold Medalist) in performances of Mendelssohn’s complete piano concertos.
Internationally, Kim has guest conducted the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta de Córdoba, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Opera and Ballet in Constanța, Romania. He has appeared with more than 40 orchestras across Canada, the U.K., Russia, Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Venezuela, through competitions, festivals, and masterclasses. Notable appearances include the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the St. Magnus Festival, and work with the Cincinnati and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras through the Conductors Guild. Other appearances include the Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra, Brasov Philharmonic, St. Petersburg State Symphony, and the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia.