“A silvery-voiced” singer (Opera Magazine), soprano Sungji Kim has received unanimous critical acclaim for her exquisite artistry, attractive stage presence, and especially “her incisive and bright voice” (The New York Times). With numerous performances in Europe, Asia, Russia, Canada, and throughout the United States, Ms. Kim is a much sought-after artist with a repertoire ranging from Renaissance and Early Music to contemporary pieces written exclusively for her voice.
Ms. Kim has performed more than thirty operatic roles in the United States and abroad. These include: Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Boheme Opera New Jersey, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at Rutgers Opera Center and Seoul Arts Center, Adina in L’elisir d’amore at Curtis Opera Center and Boheme Opera NJ, Le feu in L’enfant et les sortilèges under prestigious Maestro Lorin Maazel at Castleton Festival, Norina in Don Pasquale with Seoul National University and Boheme Opera NJ, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor at Amici Opera, Musetta in La Bohème with Boheme Opera NJ, Nannetta in Falstaff with Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Rutgers Opera Center, Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro at Merola Young Artist Program of San Francisco Opera, Olympia in Les contes d’Hoffmann at Amici Opera and Vertical Player Repertory, Creuse in Medée at Vertical Player Repertory, Gilda in Rigoletto at Amato Opera, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Monica in The Medium and Bastienne in Bastien und Bastienne at Curtis Opera Center, Alcina in Alcina at Vertical Player Repertory, Aricie in Hippolyte et Aricie, Galatea in Acis and Galatea, Lakmé in Lakmé at Manhattan School Opera Center, Zerlina in Fra Diavolo at ConcertOpera Philadelphia, Clorinda in La Cenerentola at Merola Young Artist Program, Flora in Flora and Cendrillon in Cendrillon at Rutgers Opera Center and Argelia at L’esule di Roma at Amici Opera.
Equally at home on the recital stage, Ms. Kim has performed an impressive array of concert music. Featured highlights include: Peace concert at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall; Young Talents World Festival of Performing Arts at Carnegie Hall; Mozart’s Great Mass C minor with Monmouth Civic Choir; Handel’s Messiah with Boheme Opera New Jersey; Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Alexander’s Feast at the Pacific Music Festival in Japan; Haydn’s The Creation and Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Toronto Arts Center in Canada; Bach’s Cantata No. 51 with Curtis Chamber Orchestra; Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with Rutgers Symphony Orchestra; Handel’s The Choice of Hercules and Joshua under Kenneth Cooper; the world premiere of Thomas Linley Jr.’s Cantata in NYC. Prestigious venues include Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Caramoor Music Festival, the Embassy of Croatia, the Embassy of South Korea, San Carlo Dei Lombardi (Italy), Chiesa di San Francesco in the Republic of San Marino, Kangasala-Talo (Finland), and the Church of Christ (Russia).
In addition to the standard repertoire, Ms. Kim has been actively involved in presenting, discovering, and premiering lesser-known masterpieces for voice and guitar. Collaborating with internationally renowned classical guitar virtuoso, Dr. Stanley Alexandrowicz, their duo has performed to great critical acclaim for over two decades. Venues include Washington’s Headquarters Museum (sponsored by the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey); the Embassy of Croatia; the Vertical Player Repertory Company; Boheme Opera New Jersey; Goucher College (MD); Rutgers University (NJ); and numerous concert and recital series.
Ms. Kim has often been featured in interviews and live on-air performances, including WWFM, WRTI, Jersey Arts, and SBS broadcast in South Korea. Further accomplishments include awards from prestigious competitions: the Liederkranz Foundation Competition, the Sembrich Voice Scholarship Competition (sponsored by Kosciuszko Foundation), the Merola Young Artist Program, the Annapolis Opera Company Vocal Competition, the James Parkinson Opera Foundation Competition, the Paul Robeson Vocal Competition, the Anna Moffo Memorial Soprano Competition, and the Goethe Institute German Lieder Competition.
A native of Busan, South Korea, Sungji Kim’s academic achievements include: Doctoral of Musical Arts degree, Rutgers University (as the recipient of the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Memorial Opera Fund); Professional Studies Diploma, Manhattan School of Music (as the recipient of the President’s Scholarship); Master’s Degree, Curtis Institute of Music (on full scholarship); and Bachelor’s Degree (cum laude), Seoul National University (merit scholarship).
Currently, Ms. Kim is a faculty member at Ocean County College and Rowan College, New Jersey.
Soprano Sungji Kim - "A silvery-voiced singer" - Opera magazine 