Kristen Kim

14-year-old Kristen Kim is a cellist in Portland, Oregon. She began playing cello at the age of six, and is currently studying with cellist Hyun-Jin Kim.

Kristen made her solo debut with the Oregon Mozart Players at the age of 12, and has since performed with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Sinfonietta, and members of the Oregon Symphony. She also performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall as a winner of the American Protégé International String Competition. Her competition successes include winning the 2021 Music Teachers National Association Oregon State Junior String Competition, and being an alternate winner in the Northwest Division. Along with this, she won first place in the 2022 Oregon Mozart Players Young Soloist Competition Junior Division and second place in the 2024 Senior Division. She was chosen as a winner of the 2022 Cognizart Young Artists Debut! Competition, first place in the 2022 Best Bach Competition, and second place in the Oregon American String Teachers Association Competition. In 2023, she was chosen as a winner of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra Competition and the Oregon Sinfonietta Competition.

Kristen enjoys playing with other musicians and has been appointed co-principal cello of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. She also plays in the Camerata PYP chamber orchestra and volunteers as a mentor for the Portland Youth String Ensemble.

She values sharing her musical experiences within the community by performing for senior living communities and holding benefit concerts. Kristen looks forward to opportunities where she can contribute to others through music. As she serves as Executive Director of Project Prelude, Kristen hopes to inspire younger generations of musicians to explore their artistry.

(Spring 2024)