David Kim, Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster, visits Eastern violinists

David Kim’s connections to Eastern are growing deeper.

Since moving to Philadelphia in 1999, he has sent his children to Church of the Savior, made music and friends with its minister of music, Eastern professor Ron Matthews, and read a book by Tony Campolo.

On December 8, Kim, violinist and concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, also gave a master violin class in McInnis Auditorium.

Seven Eastern students played pieces on their violins for Kim while an audience watched. Kim offered each of the seven students lessons and demonstrations to help them improve.

Kim called junior Joanna Dull the first “victim” of the night. She played a piece called Sicilienne and Rigaudon by the Austrian violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler.

“You have to look at your violin as this wild animal,” Kim told her. “And you have to look at yourself as the master who needs to tame this wild animal. Let your creative process be high and going all the time.”

Dull was pleased with Kim’s instruction.

“I was really nervous at first because I was playing in front of someone so high up in the profession,” she said. “But he made me feel comfortable and encouraged me to bring my own interpretation to the music when I play.”

First-year Joanna Lidbeck then played a piece written by Belgian violinist and composer Gioseffo Fiocoo called the Allegro in G major.

Kim’s instructional methods were creative. He colored his words with imagery to give students a clearer idea of the sound he wanted.

“One thing I noticed that was lacking a bit was resistance between each beat,” Kim said. “You want to play where you hit every note. It’s like letting the wind brush up against your back.”

Senior Dave Robertson played a Georg Frederic Handel piece entitled Sonata in D major.

“You want your body to be more open so you can open up to the audience,” Kim said. “You want to send the sound.”

First-year Jesse Runnion-Bareford then played a piece written by Austrian composer Franz Schubert entitled Sonatina.

“When playing chamber music [a form of classical music performed by a small group of instrumentalists in a palace chamber], you want to get to the point where you go on automatic pilot so that the rest of your time is spent listening,” Kim said.

Sophomore Abbey Reed played a piece by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, entitled Concerto Op. 3, No. 6.

“The violin, like all instruments, is meant to be played in tune,” Kim said. “Intonation should be an obsession for the instrumentalist.”

First-year Kristy Andreas also played a piece by Handel. The piece she chose was entitled Concerto in B minor.

“When nervous on stage, remember the first three things you can do really well and go from there,” Kim said. “It’s like a crying baby. You are the crying baby, but you are also the parent. You must essentially learn to teach yourself.”

The last student of the evening was first-year Karen Goulding, who played a piece by Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, entitled Concerto No. 5 in A major.

“When playing, you want to create a peaceful tone just like you are creating a big, shimmering bubble that can easily be popped,” Kim said.

Runnion-Bareford was impressed by the master class.

“I think David Kim is an absolutely fabulous violinist,” he said. “He has a very perceptive undertsanding of the violin and how it should be used as a solo instrument.”

Additional reporting by Sarah Vanacore, news editor.