Biography

Composer Dong-Myung Kim continues his research into recording everyday sounds through music. Drawing on his studies of just intonation, natural harmonics, aleatoric music and algorithmic composition, he pursues a range of projects encompassing instrumental sound, electronics and music theatre. In his composition recital Layers and Grain, he combined instrumental timbres with subway sounds and urban noise. In the quintet Tranquility, he observed everyday sounds and brought them to the stage, revealing their dramatic tension.

He completed bachelor’s and master’s studies in composition at the College of Arts, Kyungpook National University (teacher: Young-Min Jin). He subsequently graduated with excellent results from the master’s programme in composition at the Berlin University of the Arts (teachers: Marc Sabat and Prof. Daniel Ott) and the Meisterklasse at the University of Music Würzburg (teacher: Prof. Andreas Dohmen). Through exchanges with artists from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds, he has broadened his creative perspective and musical language.

Through these varied activities, he has brought his work to an international audience, receiving first prize in Spain’s ACC-ION SONORA composition competition, the sole award in the composition competition marking 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, and selection in the call for works at Donaueschinger Musiktage in Germany. His piano work Siseon was commissioned and performed at Donaueschinger Musiktage and broadcast across Europe by SWR2 and ORF2, among others. Flower Blossom with Wavering, for soprano and ensemble, was performed by Ensemble 2e2m in Paris and at the Tongyeong International Music Festival, and published by France’s Éditions Durand. He was also selected as a finalist in the New Music Composition Competition in Moscow, Russia, and has continued his artistic activities through invited performances at Haus Quillo and appearances at Randspiele and Tage der neuen Musik Würzburg.

Since returning to Korea, he has expanded his work in orchestral and stage music. Shimyon and Banhyang, selected for the 11th and 14th ARKO Contemporary Orchestra Music Festivals, were performed by the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra under Nara Chung and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra under Chi-Yong Chung, respectively. He presented the operas In the Fields Taken Away and Chunhyang at the Daegu International Opera Festival, and The Scent of Spring as a showcase in the Camerata project. These experiences led to an interest in dramatic music and multimedia art. With support from the Daegu Arts and Culture Promotion Agency, he presented The Scarlet Shadow and The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed as part of ‘Contemporary Music: Theatre’, combining music and theatre.

In recognition of these achievements, he received the Daegu Composers Association’s composer award in 2024 and the Yesullo Daegu Outstanding Artist Award in 2025. He currently teaches at Kyungpook National University, Pusan National University, Kyungbuk Arts High School and the Daegu Arts Gifted Education Institute. He serves as secretary-general of the Daegu Composers Association and is a member of the Yeongnam Composers Association, the Contemporary Piano Ensemble, Ensemble Blanche and Novum C5.

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