Sharon Lee Kim

Professional Overview

Sharon Lee Kim joined the SMC Music Faculty in the fall of 2008, and as an Adjunct Associate Professor, her roles have included: Asst. Director/Accompanist of the choirs, Lecturer in piano (Beginning/Intermediate, Keyboard Harmony), Vocal Coach, Chamber Music, and Music History. She is the principal pianist for the UC Berkeley Choral program, the pianist of Ensemble Ari, a collegiate staff pianist at the San Francisco Conservatory, and maintains a thriving private studio.  Sharon is a member of the MTAC, and was the recipient of the Steinway Top Teacher Award because of her care, commitment, and dedication to music education throughout 2021. She actively performs as solo and chamber pianist, vocal coach, choral and vocal accompanist. She has the honor of often collaborating with the top singers and instrumentalists in the area, performing and recording throughout the nation and internationally.

Sharon graduated with honors in music from UC Berkeley and continued her studies at the New England Conservatory where she received her Master’s degree with honors and distinction in performance in Collaborative Piano. She then furthered her studies at the conservatory to receive her Graduate Diploma. Ms.Kim’s teachers have included Irma Vallecillo, Kayo Iwama, John Greer, Barbara Shearer, and Margret Elson. During past summers, Sharon attended the Music Academy of the West, SongFest Professional Program, and Mendocino Music Festival’s Emerging Artists Program. She has participated in master classes with Mitsuko Shirai, Martin Katz, Graham Johnson, Pierre Vallet, Thomas Quasthoff, Warren Jones, Jonathan Feldman, Craig Smith, John Harbison and Myung-Hwa Chung.  Sharon is a frequent recitalist and has performed and recorded throughout the nation and internationally with various colleges, companies, and organizations including the Voci Women’s Ensemble, Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Children’s Chorus, MassTheatrica, Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute, New England Conservatory, Wellesley College, Boston College, and San Francisco Conservatory.