Texu Kim
A native of South Korea, 2014 MICF resident composer Texu Kim currently is pursuing a doctorate in composition with minors in electronic music and music theory at Indiana University, where he also serves as an associate instructor in music theory.
Before coming to the USA, Texu earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in composition from Seoul National University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the same university, and in 1998 was a silver medal winner at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Melbourne, Australia.
In March, he was appointed composer-in-residence for the Korean Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, which will premiere two of his orchestral pieces in 2015. For the MICF, he’s written a new work called “Bounce” that will be performed by Alarm Will Sound, along with new works from the festival’s other resident composers, at the festival’s grand finale on Saturday, July 26 at the Missouri Theatre.
Texu also is looking forward to upcoming performances of his work at the ACDA Cincinnati Regional Convention, Ensemble Reconsil’s Exploring World Festival, and at the AGO National Convention in Boston.
Previously, his music has been been performed by Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Reconsil Vienna, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble TIMF, NOTUS Contemporary Vocal Ensemble at Indiana University, and the Contemporary Directions Ensemble.
Texu’s awards and honors include the OSSIA New Music Composition Prize and Sang Yun International Composition Prize, as well as recognition from organizations such as the C4 Commissioning Competition, Gamma-UT Conference and Concert, Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, the Aspen Music Festival and School, ITongyeong International Music Festival, and Joong-Ang Music Concours.
In addition to his contemporary compositions, his arrangements and orchestrations have been commissioned for and performed at events including the Innsbrook Music Festival and Piece & Piano Festival, and by groups such as Ensemble Mode and the Chamber Music Society of Kumho Art Hall.
His arrangements are featured on three albums by soprano Sumi Jo, and on recordings by harpist Jung Kwak, violinists Chee-Yun and Suyoen Kim, pianist Yeol-Eum Son, daegum (Korean traditional wind instrument) player Jeong-Seung Kim, and more. Texu also has written more than 50 songs for toddlers that were published by Bicycle Korea.
You can hear more of Texu Kim’s music in the embedded audio player and video windows below.
“Shake It!!” (2014), recorded January 21, 2014 at Indiana University’s Auer Hall.
Conducted by Texu Kim, featuring Heath White (flute), Mayu Isom (oboe), Nick Morandi (Bb clarinet, bass clarinet), Felipe Brito (trombone), Andreas Foivos Apostolou (piano), Augusta McKay Lodge (violin), Yoni Gertner (viola) and Timothée Berte-Renou (cello).
“Chopsaltok” (2012), premiered February 17, 2013 by Indiana University Symphonic Choir at Auer Hall, conducted by Jaeeun Kim and featuring Xie Zhizhong (tenor).