clara kim

A chamber musician at heart, Clara has collaborated with top artists such as Colin Carr, Philippe Graffin, Charles Neidich, and Eric Rosenblith, and is thrilled to be a part of the new Trio de Kooning (TdK), a group dedicated to introducing new sound worlds to those who are willing to experience it.  TdK started under the guidance of cellist Anssi Kartunnen and has worked with musicians such as cellist Michel Strauss and composer Kaaija Saariaho at the 2011 Saariaho Festival (see TdK tab for more information).

Clara was also a founding member of The Hague String Variations (THSV), a string sextet and winner of the 2009 Debuut Concert Tour which started at Het Concertgebouw.  This unique group of friends from Dutch, Slovakian, French, and American nationalities went on to perform together on the Grachten Festival, Muziekzomer Gelderland and De Haagse Muziek Driedaagse series, as well as at IMS Prussia Cove in England.  Their live broadcasts include Radio 4 (Spiegelzaal, Het Concertgebouw) and Radio West (Anton Philipszaal).

Clara enjoys tackling the variety of challenges that come with playing contemporary music.  Some of her most memorable projects include “Moz-Art a la Haydn” by Schnittke with Rotterdam Sinfonietta (for 2 violins and chamber orchestra), “Black Angels” by Crumb (for amplified string quartet), and 31-tone (microtonal) chamber music works by Kox.  Among her most challenging -  “Ikhoor” for string trio by Xenakis (an incredible eleven minute piece of polyrhythms) with TdK, and “4 Lauds” by Carter (for solo violin).  She has participated in projects with larger contemporary ensembles such as the What's Next?, ASKO|Schonberg and New European Chamber Ensembles, as well as Heidelberg Fruhling Festival’s Atelier Project.

A native of Boston, Clara completed a double Bachelor degree program at the New England Conservatory with Eric Rosenblith, Pi Kappa Lambda, and a Literature Degree Magna Cum Laude at Tufts University. She received her Master's degree at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, and then moved to Los Angeles where she is currently a Doctoral of Musical Arts candidate at University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.