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About Jonah

Jonah Kim is an artist of great charisma and originality. His tone is immediately distinguishable by its signature sweetness. His work is praised by critics and fellow musicians alike for his “flawless delivery of Herculean technical demands” (The Strad) and his thorough understanding and insight into the minds of composers. Aside from his cellistic prowess, he is widely regarded as one of the finest musicians in the world today. The Korean International Arts Review called him “Pablo Casals reincarnate”.

From a young age, legendary cellist Janos Starker placed him at the “top of his generation”. At only 12 years of age, Jonah made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Washington Post hailed him as “the next Yo-Yo Ma” at his National Symphony debut. He has since performed on the world’s most prestigious stages.

Jonah’s new album Approaching Autumn, is his second for the Delos label. It is titled after the new American work by Mark Abel, bridging behemoths, the Kodaly Solo and the Grieg sonatas. It was received with further critical acclaim for “[capturing] the very elusiveness that gives the music its substance” (Gramophone). Kim is joined by Robert Koenig on the piano, who together “partner beyond perfection… [they] prove to be the ideal interpreters of this music” (All About the Arts).

Jonah enjoys collaborating with the leading chamber musicians of our day, partnering with artists like Van Cliburn winner Jon Nakamatsu, Martin Beaver, Scott Yoo (host of PBS docu-series Now Hear This, on which Jonah has made multiple cameos), and Chee-Yun (from the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm). He also shared the stage with principal members of ensembles like Orpheus, and the LA and NY Philharmonics, and members of the Tokyo, Formosa and Dover Quartets among numerous others.

In 2020, Jonah founded Trio Barclay with childhood friends Sean Kennard and Dennis Kim. They have commissioned and premiered a new work for every performance on their home stage as ensemble-in-residence at the Barclay Theatre in Orange County with their debut album set to release in January of 2026. In 2024, Jonah was named artistic director of Festival de Música de Cámara in San Miguel de Allende, now known as the Music Society of San Miguel. He is also founder and director of the San Francisco Music Festival.

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 “Super Stella” built for him by Haide Lin in 2022, which he often pairs with his favorite bow made in 1904 by Jules Fétique à Paris. He makes his home in San Francisco with his wife, American ballerina Julia Rowe.

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APPROACHING AUTUMN

with ROBERT KOENIG, pianist

KODALY, ABEL & GRIEG

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“…flawless delivery of its Herculean technical demands… the sense of exhilaration in this performance has us on the edge of our seats.”
— Joanne Talbot, THE STRAD

“Impactful and dramatic.
[Kim’s] tone has the cosy warmth of a well-loved cashmere sweater.”
— Andrew Farach-Colton, GRAMOPHONE

“Kim dives into this music with courage underpinned by formidable technical prowess, with which he achieves a dazzling performance. Kim and Koenig partner beyond perfection… [they] prove to be the ideal interpreters of this music.”
— Rafael de Acha, ALL ABOUT THE ARTS

“Kim combines a gorgeous sound and elegance of phrasing… I would rate Kim as one of the very finest American cellists… Kim digs into this score; he brings out things that you possibly never realized were in it… he has that indefinable “it.”
— Lynn René Bayley, ART MUSIC LOUNGE

“Kim’s performance is outstanding – big, brash and gritty as called for in the outer movements; sensitive and lyrical in the Adagio (con gran espressione) – and his technique in this extremely challenging work is impressive.”

— David Olds, THE WHOLE NOTE

Also Available

RACHMANINOFF & BARBER: CELLO SONATAS
with SEAN KENNARD, pianist

“With his pulsating vibrato and intense expressivity, Kim asserts the cello’s eloquent personality throughout the varied atmospheres.”
— Donald Rosenberg, GRAMOPHONE

“A moving and musically satisfying performance... Kim’s full-bodied, rounded cello sound is ideal for the work’s Romantic lyricism and the energy and passion of his playing carry the listener along.”
— Janet Banks, THE STRAD

Cellist Jonah Kim and pianist Sean Kennard have been making music together since they were teenagers at the Curtis Institute of Music and together they have played almost every sonata in the standard repertoire. The Rachmaninoff Sonata and the Sonata by Samuel Barber hold a special place for them. Purchase the CD from Amazon or Delos directly as an excellent gift idea for any occasion!