Violinist David Kim was named concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1999. Born in Carbondale, Illinois, in 1963, he started playing the violin at the age of three, began studies with the famed pedagogue Dorothy DeLay at the age of eight, and later received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School.

Each season, Mr. Kim appears as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra on tour or at one of the orchestra’s many residencies, including the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, and the Bravo! Vail Festival. A dedicated teacher, he also makes annual visits for teaching and performance residencies to conservatories and schools such as Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, Swarthmore College, Seoul National University in Korea, and the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne. Mr. Kim regularly is a soloist with orchestras, performs recitals, and appears in speaking engagements across the United States. He will continue to be the concertmaster of the nine-time Emmy Award–winning All-Star Orchestra on PBS stations across the United States and online at the Khan Academy.

Each season, Mr. Kim appears as a guest in concert with famed modern hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty at venues such as the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Carnegie Hall. Mr. Kim serves as Distinguished Artist at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in Macon. He frequently serves as an adjudicator at international violin competitions such as the Menuhin and Sarasate.

Mr. Kim has been awarded honorary doctorates from Eastern University in suburban Philadelphia, the University of Rhode Island, and Dickinson College. His instruments are a J.B. Guadagnini from Milan, Italy, ca. 1757 on loan from The Philadelphia Orchestra and a Francesco Gofriller, ca. 1735. Mr. Kim exclusively performs on and endorses Larsen Strings from Denmark.

Mr. Kim resides in a Philadelphia suburb with his wife, Jane, and daughters Natalie and Maggie. He is an avid golfer and outdoorsman.