Hometown:
Houston, TX
Education:
Cleveland Institute of Music, Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance, 2025
Born in Busan, South Korea, cellist Hawon Kim is currently pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying under Richard Weiss and Bryan Dumm of the Cleveland Orchestra. Kim participated in many festivals, such as the Masterworks Festival and the Formosa Chamber Music Festival in Taiwan. Most recently, he played with the CIM Orchestra in Severance Hall as the principal cellist.
What is something interesting that people may not know about you?
I play the cello! I have bed hair no matter what time of the day, and I dislike cucumbers heavily. Also, I enjoy learning about anything historical, whether it is real or fiction.
Name three of your favorite composers:
Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Franz Schubert
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
Outside of music, I like to spend time with my friends or play games.
What are you most looking forward to this summer with the NRO?
During my summer with NRO, I hope to further develop my orchestral experience through a lot of repertoire and concerts. I’m also looking forward to meeting new people!