By Zane Carroll
New York was a scary place in 2000. This was a time when there were no smartphones and navigating the city by subway was a nightmare. Mina Kim narrates her first culture shock moments when moving to America from South Korea. “I didn’t speak English and Eastern culture is a lot different to Western culture,” Kim said. “I was shocked about the culture the Americans were doing.”
Kim graduated from Purchase’s Music Conservatory in 2006 and 18 years later is now the chair of classical instrumental studies and director of Purchase Symphony Orchestra. Kim loves being involved with the Symphony Orchestra each academic year, saying, “Being together in an orchestra to make the musical journey, that’s amazing. I enjoy it a lot because the orchestra is like being in a little society.”
Eni Karahoda, a symphonic orchestra student, described Kim as being very professional and knowledgeable when teaching. “She’s always really graceful and calm. You hear horror stories of professional conductors who rule with an iron fist. She is not like that,” said Karahoda. He finds Kim to be an inspiring music conductor, saying, “If I was doing some professional performance, I’d want to play the way she directs us.”
Kim lives near campus in Westchester with her husband, two sons, and her dog, a Russel Terrier named Parsnips. During her time off, Kim enjoys boxing and hiking with her husband and Parsnips. She still manages to visit her parents in Jeju Island, South Korea, where she reconnects with her family relatives and friends.
Originally, Kim is from Busan which is the second largest city in South Korea. She instantly felt a passion for music when she began playing the piano at the age of 3. “There’s a piano institution in every street,” Kim said. “That’s the kind of culture that Asians have, they learn an instrument at an early age.”
Kim attended an arts high school in South Korea and received a Bachelor of Music, majoring in piano performance, at Busan National University. After participating in concerts in Beijing, China, and music festivals in Vienna, Austria, she made the decision to come to Purchase College.
“I thought I had enough education musically in Korea. I also wanted to explore other cultures and countries since I went to Europe before,” Kim said. “I wanted to try to study in America. So, I came here and met my husband. I never really expected to be American living.”
Mina Kim playing the piano in her office. (Photo by Zane Carroll)
“I imagine that once she put her mind to becoming a conductor there was simply no stopping her,” said Stephen Buck, a music department colleague of Kim’s, who has always admired her perseverance and commitment. “To go to Austria and elsewhere in the European Union to study and compete is really phenomenal. We’re so lucky to have her!”
Buck described her as a wonderful musician and colleague. “We’ve had to negotiate some complicated issues involving students, and she’s always been fair-minded and kind. She keeps the best interests of the students in mind at all times, and that of the Conservatory of Music,” he said.
Kim chose to withdraw her Korean citizenship to keep her sons from being drafted by the Korean army. “Korean men have their duty serving in the army,” she said. “I had to give up my Korean citizenship for my two sons. When I had them, I had a green card, so automatically they registered as a Korean, as a double citizen."
Kim continued, "For my sons to give up their citizenship, it had to start from their parents. Now they don't need to serve in the Korean army. It's a bit of a sad moment. I'm solely an American citizen right now.”
Conservatory of Music Administrator Assistant, Sue Ellen Silber, said it’s a privilege and pleasure working with Kim when planning the Purchase Symphony Orchestra concerts. “I am always impressed by her depth of knowledge of orchestral repertoire and her ability to use that knowledge and considerable creativity to program concerts that are enjoyable for her student musicians and for our audiences,” Silber said.
Silber also believes Kim sets a great example of professionalism. She highlights a recent Symphony Orchestra’s performance, saying, “Her gracious and unusual take on the curtain call, shaking hands with each member of the ensemble before finally taking her own bow, was a demonstration of her dedication to and appreciation of her students.”
Each week Kim gets very excited to work with Purchase music students. “Seeing students in their activities through each rehearsal, and especially concerts, is an amazing experience to see them grow. Also, as a musician, I grow. I love it,” she said.
Kim enjoys the Purchase community when compared to other schools she has worked at. She said, “It is very competitive to get into the program. Even at schools and as a professional career, but I don’t see that here. Everybody supports each other so well in a very respectful way. I love this atmosphere.”
“She is always smiling at everyone. She is very kind,” said symphonic orchestra student, Zexuan Liu. He explained that Kim is very punctual with her classes and gives thorough instructions, saying, “She teaches us in more detail compared to other teachers I’ve had. She always lets us know what to do right then and there.”
Zexuan Liu (left) with his clarinet during practice rehearsals with Mina Kim (right). (Photo by Zane Carroll)
Last year, Kim was selected as the director of the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra, a local professional adult orchestra, which is a two-hour drive away from Purchase. Kim had to participate in preliminary and secondary rounds as part of her application for the role.
Kim met the orchestra and had a concert with them, which was the final stage of the audition. “I'm really grateful to be director,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity because I can grow as a musician. It's good working two different orchestras, it’s really good.”
Mina Kim, chair of classical instrumental studies and director of Purchase Symphony Orchestra. (Photo courtesy of Mina Kim)
Kim has been playing the piano for over 40 years and is grateful for her musical journey. “There's a lot to study and I just want to keep going. I'm very thankful that I can do this in my life,” Kim said. “I have a lot of support from my family, faculty members and students. I just want to keep going as long as I can.”
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