Sookmyung Women’s University
Dr. Soo Youn Kim is a graduate of Sookmyung Women’s University, where her formal academic and musical studies formed an important foundation for her later professional career.
Seoul · South Korea
Biography
김수연
Dr. Soo Youn Kim
Pianist · Professor · Educator
A distinguished musical life shaped by performance, decades of university teaching and an enduring dedication to the art of the piano.
Piano · Performance · Education
Her Story
A life devoted to music, education and performance.
김수연Dr. Soo Youn Kim has built a distinguished musical career through decades of university teaching, piano performance and dedicated study of her art.
Dr. Kim is a graduate of Sookmyung Women’s University and continued her advanced musical studies in the United States. She earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Combs College of Music in Philadelphia in 1988.
Her academic career extended across thirty-six years of university teaching, during which she devoted herself to the development of musicians and to the study and performance of classical piano repertoire.
Her international academic experience also included appointments as a Research Professor at the University of North Texas in 2000 and again in 2007, providing further opportunities for musical study, research and artistic exchange.
Alongside her work as an educator, Dr. Kim maintained an active connection to the concert stage. Her career includes fifteen piano recitals as well as documented guest artist appearances in the United States and Korea.
Performance engagements have included appearances at the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, Steinway Hall in Plano and Andong National University, reflecting the close relationship between performance and education throughout her professional life.
36
Years of
University Teaching
15
Piano
Recitals
DMA
Doctor of
Musical Arts
Performance and teaching have remained interconnected throughout a career spanning more than three decades.
Education & Academia
A foundation built through study and teaching.
Dr. Kim’s professional life brings together advanced musical study, university education and decades of experience guiding developing musicians.
Doctor of Musical Arts
She earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Combs College of Music in Philadelphia, continuing her advanced studies in piano and music at the doctoral level.
May 22, 1988University of North Texas
Her international academic experience included appointments as a Research Professor at the University of North Texas in 2000 and again in 2007.
2000 · 2007
36
Years of University Teaching
A career in university education
Across thirty-six years as a university professor, Dr. Kim combined musical scholarship with the practical work of teaching, mentoring and preparing students for their own development as musicians. Her academic career remained closely connected to her work as a pianist and recital performer.
Performance Career
At the Piano
Recital performance has remained an essential part of Dr. Kim’s musical life, complementing decades of academic work and university teaching.
Pianist · Recitalist
Performance, interpretation and musical collaboration.
Dr. Soo Youn Kim’s career includes fifteen piano recitals together with documented guest artist appearances in both the United States and Korea.
Her performances have included university recital settings, guest artist programs and appearances at Steinway Hall in Plano, reflecting a sustained commitment to classical piano performance.
15
Piano Recitals
US + Korea
Documented Performances
2016
Multiple Guest Recitals
University of North Texas
Documented performance appearance at the University of North Texas.
University of North Texas
A further documented performance appearance at the University of North Texas.
Texas Woman’s University
Guest Artist Duo Recital presented at Eberly Hall.
Steinway Hall · Plano
Guest Artist Duo Recital presented at Steinway Hall in Plano, Texas.
Soo Youn Kim Piano Concert
Piano concert presented at Andong National University in Korea.
Musical Collaboration
Supplied concert programs document collaborations including Steven Harlos, Sung-Yun Kim and Migeun Chung.
Career Timeline
A musical life across decades.
Selected milestones from Dr. Soo Youn Kim’s academic, performance and professional career.
1988
Doctor of Musical Arts
Earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Combs College of Music in Philadelphia on May 22, 1988.
2000
University of North Texas
Served as a Research Professor at the University of North Texas.
2007
Return to the University of North Texas
Returned to the University of North Texas for a further Research Professor appointment.
2008
UNT Performance
A documented performance appearance took place at the University of North Texas on October 15, 2008.
2009
Further UNT Appearance
A further documented performance was presented at the University of North Texas on March 30, 2009.
2016
Guest Recitals in Texas
Guest Artist Duo Recitals were presented at Texas Woman’s University on July 14 and Steinway Hall in Plano on July 30.
2016
Soo Youn Kim Piano Concert
A piano concert was presented on December 21, 2016 at Andong National University.
2025
Green Stripes Order of Service Merit
On August 31, 2025, Dr. Kim received the Green Stripes Order of Service Merit (녹조근정훈장), recognizing her distinguished public service and academic career.
Recognition
Green Stripes Order of Service Merit
녹조근정훈장A distinguished national recognition marking decades of dedicated academic and public service.
On August 31, 2025, Dr. Soo Youn Kim received the Green Stripes Order of Service Merit, 녹조근정훈장.
The presidential certificate identifies Dr. Kim as a professor at National Gyeongguk University and formally records the honor awarded in recognition of her service.
Award
Green Stripes Order of Service Merit
Korean
녹조근정훈장
Date
August 31, 2025
Academic Role
Professor · National Gyeongguk University
Teaching & Legacy
Decades devoted to musical education.
For Dr. Soo Youn Kim, performance and education have remained closely connected throughout her professional life.
Across thirty-six years of university teaching, Dr. Kim worked within an academic environment centered on musical development, performance and advanced study.
Her experience as both pianist and professor allowed her professional life to move continually between the concert stage and the teaching studio.
Her appointments and performances in Korea and the United States also reflect a career shaped by international academic and artistic exchange.
36
Years of
University Teaching
2
Research Professor
Appointments at UNT
Continuing the Work
Bringing decades of academic and performance experience into individual piano study.
Today, Dr. Kim’s background as a university professor and recital pianist provides the foundation for her work with piano students.
Lessons can draw upon her extensive experience in performance, musicianship and the long-term development of pianists.
Book a Lesson →
Continue the Journey
Experience the piano through a lifetime of performance and teaching.
Discover Dr. Soo Youn Kim’s performances or begin your own musical study through an individual piano lesson.
Dr. Soo Youn Kim · 김수연