Roman Kim

Internet star and breathtaking virtuoso. Sound innovator and witty arranger. The young violinist and composer Roman Kim is not only a multi-talent but also a quintessential artist of our time. In addition to his flawless technique, which is expected of any great violinist, Roman Kim possesses the daring and musicality necessary for the specific virtuoso repertoire à la Paganini, liberating such works from being purely superficial. Kim's approach to music is direct and authentic, and his own compositions reveal him as a gifted and conscious "epigone" of Paganini.

In 2010, Roman Kim released his first video project as a solo violinist. The then 19-year-old transcribed Bach's Air from the 3rd Orchestral Suite, adapting all four parts of Bach's score for a single violin. Instrumentally, it was a considerable challenge; musically, it was a pleasure. The arrangement became an instant hit, attracting the attention and recognition of thousands of violinists and music lovers.

The cooperation with the music publisher Bärenreiter provided a proud confirmation of his works value. Bach's Air, arranged by Roman Kim, was published in April 2015. The demand was overwhelming, and the first edition sold out within a few months.

Roman Kim's music is romantic, melodic, and virtuosic. In his compositions, the artist explores the boundless world of his instrument, bringing numerous innovations to the sound possibilities of the violin. His paraphrase "1 Brindisi" on Verdi's themes (published in 2013) strengthened his reputation as Paganini's "epigone." In April 2017, Roman Kim's Three Romances for violin and piano were published by Bärenreiter. Later, Bärenreiter also published his transcription of W.A. Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik and his own Requiem for solo violin.

Born to a family of Tatar, Belarusian, and Korean heritage, Kim began studying the violin at age five and quickly attracted attention, winning regional and national competitions by age seven. In 2000, he entered the Central Music School of the Moscow State Conservatory, where he studied with Galina Turchaninova, supported by a scholarship from the Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation.

Later, he attended masterclasses with Maxim Vengerov, Midori Goto, Lewis Kaplan, Miriam Fried, and Gidon Kremer. In 2008, at the age of 16, Roman Kim was accepted into the Musikhochschule Cologne, where he studied with Prof. Viktor Tretyakov.

As a soloist, Kim has performed with major orchestras and ensembles around the world. In addition to his active masterclass program for musicians worldwide, he is often a jury member at prestigious violin competitions, including the Schoenfeld International String Competition Harbin (2025), as well as the Viktor Tretyakov International Violin Competition (2025) where his own composition, the Romance in B-flat major, was chosen as the compulsory piece to be performed by all competitors.

As an inventor, Kim plays on a newly built experimental violin made by Alexander Hazin (2015), called the "Superior". Kim uses his own handmade violin strings, fingerboard, and bow. 

Another unique invention of his is his prismatie glasses.