Who is Clara-Jumi Kang?

She was born in 1987 in Mannheim, Germany, into a musical family—both of her parents were renowned Korean opera singers. At the age of three, she began playing the violin and was quickly recognized as an exceptional talent. Her formal education started at the Musikhochschule Mannheim under Valerie Gradov. She later studied at prestigious institutions such as the Musikhochschule Lübeck with Zakhar Bron, the Juilliard School in New York with Dorothy DeLay, and the Korean National University of Arts under Nam-Yun Kim. At just five years old, Kang made her solo debut with the Symphoniker Hamburg—an extraordinary achievement that placed her in the spotlight at an early age.

International Awards and Recognition

Major international accolades followed in 2009 and 2010. She won the Seoul Music Competition, the Sendai Violin Competition, and the prestigious International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. These distinctions confirmed her status as a rising star in the classical music world and opened doors to stages across the globe.

Since then, Clara-Jumi Kang has performed with orchestras such as Kremerata Baltica, the Mariinsky Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Tokyo, Stockholm, Seoul, Osaka, and Philadelphia. She has also appeared in the Netherlands: in 2017, she made her debut with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

Deep Connection with Her Instrument

Kang’s musical identity is deeply shaped by the instrument she plays: the 1702 ‘Thunis’ Stradivarius. This rare violin, known for its warm and rich sound, serves as a perfect extension of her virtuosic style. The combination of her technical mastery, emotional interpretation, and the instrument’s sonic depth makes every concert with Clara-Jumi Kang a truly special experience.