Jonah Kim is a performer of great charisma and originality. The legendary cellist Janos Starker placed him at the “top of his generation” and the Washington Post hailed him as “the next Yo-Yo Ma.” He made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra at only 12 years of age, and he has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.
Jonah enjoys collaborating with friends like conductor/violinist Scott Yoo, host of the PBS hit docu-series Now Hear This, and Chee-Yun Kim (you may recognize her from her cameo on the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm). His trio with childhood friends Sean Kennard and Dennis Kim is in artistic residence at the Barclay Theatre in Orange County.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jonah trained at The Juilliard School and the Curtis
Institute of Music. Jonah’s favorite cello is the award winning “Stella” built for him by Haide Lin in 2016, which he likes to pair with his favorite bow made in 1904 by Jules Fétique à Paris. He makes his home in San Francisco with his wife, ballerina Julia Rowe. OOfficial Website
The Piano Connection
In descending chronological order
| Description | Generation | Date | Place | People |
| For cello/piano: “Wings of Music”, “Sky of Dreams”, “Songs Without Words” Opus 20, 21, 23, 24 | 1st Gen Steinway 338662” | Jan 30-31 2023 | Skywalker Sound, Nicasio | Jonah Kim (cellist), Kendall Ross Bean (composer/pianist/lyricist), David v.R. Bowles and Dann Thompson (engineer), Larry Lobel (technician), Karen Earle Lile (producer/lyricist) |
| “Wings of Music” Ballet Film produced with cello “Stella” | n/a | April 3, 2022 | Metropolitan Club, San Francisco | Cello: Jonah Kim, Dancer/Choreographers: Tiit Jelimets and Julia Rowe, Videographer: Dan Foldes, Producer: Karen Earle Lile |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” recording session | 1st Gen to Steinway Skywalker Sound Bosendorfer and “Stella” cello | June 15, 2021 | Skywalker Sound, San Francisco | Cellist: Jonah Kim, Pianist” Kendall Ross Bean, Producer: Karen Earle Lile, Percussionist: Leon Joyce, Jr. |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” rehearsal session for cello/piano arrangement. Jazz trio arrangement was improvised and structure created. | 1st Gen to Steinway 33866s and “Stella” cello | June 4, 2021 | Piano Finders West, El Cerrito | Cellist: Jonah Kim, Pianist: Kendall Ross Bean, Producer: Karen Earle Lile, Percussionist: Leon Joyce, Jr., |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” cello solo scratch track recording Session | 2st Gen to Steinway 161912 | May 17, 2021 | San Francisco | Cellist: Jonah Kim |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” cello part arranged on “Stella” built for Jonah Kim by Haide Lin in 2016 paired with 1904 bow by Jules Fétique in Paris | 2st Gen to Steinway 161912 | April 30, 2021 | San Francisco | Cello Arranger: Jonah Kim |
| Karen Lile commissions Jonah Kim to arrange “Break Free on Wings of Music” for cello solo | n/a | April 11, 2021 | San Francisco | Karen Lile, Jonah Kim |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” piano scratch track recording session | 1st gen to Steinway 161912 | March 19, 2021 | Piano Finders East | Kendall Ross Bean |
| “Break Free on Wings of Music” composed on 1914 Steinway 161912, 1909 Steinway 136187 and Steinway 184229 rebuilt by Piano Finders | 1st Gen to Steinways 161912, 136187, 184229 | March 19, 2021 | Piano Finders West | Kendall Ross Bean |
| Sharon Litsky introduces Karen Lile to Jonah Kim and Julia Rowe | n/a | November 5, 2020 | Metropolitan Club via Zoom during pandemic lockdown | Sharon Litsky, Karen Earle Lile, Jonah Kim, Julia Rowe |
| ”Break Free on Wings of Music” commissioned by Oakland Symphony | n/a | August 12, 2020 | Oakland, CA | Composer: Kendall Ross Bean, Librettist: Karen Earle Lile |
1st Generation refers to how close the Relationship is to featured pianos. Cello is also significant instrument in this chronology.
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