Kim Bomsori in an interview

"It's incredible to be on a list with the legends."

Bomsori's expressive communication with the audience through her personal interpretations has been recognized by many of the world's best orchestras and distinguished conductors.

Bomsori, a native of South Korea, received her bachelor's degree from Seoul National University, where she studied with Young Uck Kim. She also earned her Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School as a full scholarship recipient, studying with Sylvia Rosenberg and Ronald Copes.

With the support of the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, she currently plays a violin made by Joannes Baptista Guadagnini in 1774.

You were born and raised in South Korea. You started playing the violin at the age of five. What was your childhood like?
It was quite natural for me to be involved with music as a child, because my parents love music and we went to classical concerts every two weeks. I played piano and violin, and I also enjoyed ballet, figure skating, and Baduk (Go, also known as Asian chess).

You have won several prizes at the world's most prestigious violin competitions, including the ARD Music Competition, the Queen Elisabeth Competition, the Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition, and the Tchaikovsky and Wieniawski Competitions. How important are competitions for you?
They were important steps for me to build my routine, learn new pieces, and perform for people. There are deadlines, and I have to finish my preparation within a certain timeframe and play many pieces in a short period. This is quite similar to the life of a professional musician, and I thought they were very helpful for me to be ready to go on stage as a professional concert performer.

Did you play differently at these competitions?
I play differently every time. So I think I did!

Deutsche Grammophon recently announced that they have signed an exclusive contract with you. How did that come about?
I still think it's incredible to be on their roster with living legends of classical music. I'm very happy and grateful, but also a little apprehensive. But I believe this conflict will be a positive and constructive one for me as an artist.

Your latest album is called "Violin On Stage." Can you tell us a little about it?
It's music for opera and ballet. I always think that whatever instruments should try to sing like the human voice, the violin, in particular, works in a way that is very similar to the human voice. And dance is about the pulse of our heartbeat. These two elements cannot be neglected or separated in music. They are the most essential components. The repertoire I've chosen is music that is deeply connected to these two themes, arranged or composed for violin and orchestra. They were once the most popular repertoire of legendary 20th-century violinists like Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, Fritz Kreisler, and Yehudi Menuhin, from the so-called golden age of the violin.

You will be performing at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival as "Menuhin's Heritage Artist 2021." What can we look forward to?
I feel very honored and am very happy to have been selected as "Menuhin's Heritage Artist" for the next five years, because Yehudi Menuhin has always been my hero. The sound and the music he created were wonderful, and that is always a great inspiration for me. I am very much looking forward to continuing his legacy as a violinist of our time as a Menuhin ambassador.

The current pandemic situation is not easy, especially for artists. How are you coping with it?
I was very fortunate to have recorded my last album during this unprecedented time. The situation was very uncertain, and the original schedule was changed several times, but during this time when we were allowed to make music, the entire orchestra, the conductor, and I were so desperate and passionate to make great music together. Every stage can be more meaningful than ever before. I'm preparing for my summer concerts with all my passion, love, and energy.

They're still young. What are your plans and visions for the future?
I learn and develop my musical ideas on every stage with my fellow musicians. That's the wonderful thing about music and art—there isn't one right answer. I'm also curious to see how my life and my music will develop and take shape with time and experience.

What are your passions besides music?
I love films and books. They are essential in my life. These days, I'm very interested in environmental issues and think about them a lot. I'm still figuring out how I can make a difference through small actions. For example, by using less plastic, buying products from companies that score well in ESG criteria, or simply deleting unread emails from my inbox.
In my free time, to calm myself and focus, I practice Tai Chi. It's a defensive and meditative martial art that originated in China.

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.net | May 11, 2021