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Ga-Eun Kim, a native of South Korea, is an award-winning violinist and accomplished performer, ensemble leader, and educator. She has earned top honors in several competitions, including the Nafzger Young Artists Audition, the University of Kansas Concerto Competition, and the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. In addition, she was also named the runner-up for the prestigious Krannert Center Debut Artist Series and received scholarships from both the Kansas Music Club and Sigma Alpha Iota. Ga-Eun made her professional solo debut performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Sinfonia da Camera at their 38th Season Premiere Concert. She also performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the KU Symphony Orchestra at the Lied Center. Her other notable appearances include a featured performance at the 70th Anniversary of Korean Liberation concert in Tampa, Florida, supported by the Korean Cultural Foundation. She has appeared at several renowned music festivals in both the United States and South Korea, including the Great Mountains Music Festival, the Summit Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival, where she was a two-time full-scholarship recipient. She was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she performed under the baton of leading conductors such as Semyon Bychkov and Sir Andrew Davis at the Chicago Symphony Center. As a chamber musician, Ga-Eun was a member of the Crimson String Quartet, which was featured in a broadcast on NPR. The quartet also focused on outreach through performances for underrepresented audiences and educational programs in local schools. Her versatility extends to both contemporary music and historical performance and was a performer and leader with the Illinois Modern Ensemble and Concerto Urbano, the University of Illinois’ period instrument ensemble, with regular appearances at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Smith Memorial Hall. A dedicated educator, Ga-Eun has taught at Northwestern Music Academy, Illinois String Academy, and Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp and served as a teaching assistant for violin courses at the University of Illinois. She has given masterclasses at institutions such as Roosevelt University and the University of Oklahoma. Additionally, she has served as a jury member for the American Soloist International Competition. Ga-Eun began her formal music training at the Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School, later earning her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees on full scholarship from the University of Kansas and Northwestern University, respectively. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also on a full scholarship. Currently, Ga-Eun Kim serves as Adjunct Professor of Violin at 91Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ. She is also the concertmaster of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, and a regular member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia da Camera.