Renowned Composer Texu Kim Returns to Orchestra Hall for Lunar New Year Concert

Composer Texu Kim, who first showcased his music to the U.S. audience at the Orchestra Hall in January 2015, is scheduled to return to the same venue with his piece, Dub-Sanjo. The performance is part of the Lunar New Year concert on February 17, and the concerts on March 8 and 9, which will also include Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Kim recently discussed his experiences, his approach to naming his pieces, and his future projects.

Kim's involvement in the 2015 Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute marked a key moment in his career. His piece, Splash!!, was performed and well-received, despite its complexity. This experience helped Kim realize the effort required from the performers and the group, leading him to adopt a more considerate approach to his music.

The Composer Institute also gave Kim a better understanding of the music industry and the role of composers. The program offered participants the opportunity to interact with various stakeholders in concert-making, including staff, public relations and copyright specialists, and audience members. This experience prepared Kim for future collaborations, especially when he became the composer-in-residence of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra.

In 2021, Kim led the development of the Composers’ Atelier program at the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. The program was largely inspired by the Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute.

Kim also shared his unique approach to naming his pieces. He often uses two exclamation points at the end of his titles to help establish his brand. However, he only uses this for titles that suit a strong ending. He also uses hyphens in his titles, a practice he attributes to the common use of hyphens in Korean names. Kim stated that only a small portion of his pieces have double exclamation points or a hyphen.

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