A Complex Mind Expressed Through A Life in Music.
BORN / January 6, 1920 in Dinuba, California
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Humble Beginnings. Born into poverty, Earl Kim was the third son of immigrant Korean parents. Though they were educated in their native Korea, Earl's parents toiled as day laborers picking fruit and vegetables in the fields of Dinuba, California. Neither parent played a musical instrument. His journey in the arts began as a young child with free piano lessons--first from a church organist, then from a touring concert pianist and composer who taught him for free for seven years. Something ignited. Earl studied at Los Angeles City College, University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California - Berkeley. His legendary teachers included three of the greatest composers in modern history: Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Bloch, and Roger Sessions.
WW II Veteran. Earl's education was interrupted by war. In 1941, Earl's life took an unexpected turn. He was drafted by the US Army during the Second World War--at times enduring harsh racism which Earl only revealed to his family and close friends. He served his country as a US Army Air Force Intelligence Officer. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki changed Earl's life forever. In the aftermath of the nuclear attack, he flew over the annihilation a day after the bombing, becoming a witness to the devastation and history. The memory of seeing a lone truck meandering through the destroyed ruins would haunt him for the rest of his life. Teacher and Mentor. Earl had a prolific career as a composer and teacher. His journey began as an instructor at UC Berkeley (1949) where he was awarded the Prix de Paris, Princeton University (1952 - 1967), and Harvard University (1967 - 1990) as the James Edward Ditson Professor of Music. He mentored a generation of composers, students and artists. His compositions spanned forms and he is especially well known for his extensive work in the idiom of music theater, specifically on texts by Samuel Beckett--who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1969. Earl went on to collaborate with the legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. Together, they recorded an album with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. Present Day. Principal photography has concluded on a documentary feature film about Earl Kim's music and his complex and fascinating life, directed and produced by Los Angeles Emmy Award winning filmmaker Ty Kim. Working closely with Earl's family, musical colleagues, students, and friends--Ty's documentary film is the official and the only family authorized film of the Earl Kim story. |
A noted composer of austere and dazzling works...Mr. Kim received the most public attention for works he wrote for the violinist Itzhak Perlman.” |
While Earl Kim (1920 - 1998) was a respected and often performed composer, his reputation to the general public is somewhat of a forgotten legacy. This mission of the filmmaker and our creative partners including Earl's family, brilliant students and close friends--is to build awareness of an authentic, brave, innovative, complex and ambitious artist.
It is time to recognize his unstoppable spirit and creativity. Earl Kim was not only a brilliant classical music composer, teacher and mentor. He was also a moral and fearless individual: flying over the aftermath of Nagasaki, refusing to sign the California Loyalty Oath during the McCarthy Era, and co-founding Musicians Against Nuclear Arms (MANA). He stood on principle and refused to compromise. Some may call his story an American success story. In fact, it goes much deeper. How does the third son of Korean Immigrants growing up in poverty evolve into a world class scholar and tenured professor at Harvard? Academic success was his ticket out of a life of poverty. But, he endured great sacrifice to eventually find his voice as an artist. Family members describe his personal life as complex and yet joyful. Earl's intense privacy and decision to turn inward contributed to a lack of public recognition to this day. Until now. A talented team led by Los Angeles Emmy Award winning storyteller Ty Kim will bring Earl Kim's story to the public's attention for the first time. Our creative team includes people who have never publicly spoken about Earl's life before: family members who knew the public and private sides of Earl Kim, renowned artists such as violinist Itzhak Perlman and soprano Benita Valente. His former students and artistic collaborators reads like a who's who list: acclaimed composer and Lehigh Professor Paul Salerni, respected scholar and theater and stage director Laura Johnson, renowned conductor and television host Scott Yoo, award-winning composers John Harbison, Anthony Brandt, Kurt Stallmann, Shih-Hui Chen, soprano Karol Bennett, and many others. |
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Friends of Earl Kim include:
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The Sejong Soloists
Hailed by CNN as "one of the top ensembles of today," the Sejong Soloists is a first-class chamber orchestra renowned for its exceptional dynamic style. It has kept the music of Earl Kim alive, performing the composer's works in front of audiences for years. The Sejong Soloists was ensemble-in-residence at the Aspen Music Festival from 1996 - 2005. Ty Kim
A Los Angeles-based director, producer and writer. Ty earned six Los Angeles area Emmys, the National Edward R. Murrow Award, nine Golden Mikes, the Associated Press award for California and other awards. Ty worked for years with Mike Wallace and Ed Bradley at the television news magazine CBS News/60 Minutes. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and launched a successful consultancy and production company developing feature films, scripted television shows, documentaries and media ventures. He served on the national board of directors of The Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra Foundation (HROF), the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), and is the founding Emeritus Board Chair and former Chief Operating Officer of The Aronson Cello Festival honoring the late Lev Aronson. Ty heads The Andrew B. Kim and Wan Kyun Rha Kim Family Foundation, Inc. The Andrew B. Kim and Wan Kyun Rha Kim Family Foundation, Inc.
This registered 501C-3 supports the arts and education on a national level. The Kim Family Foundation has partnered with over fifty organizations over the past several decades including Cornell, Dartmouth, Smith College, Arizona State University, The Colburn School, The Piatigorsky Festival, The Music Academy of the West, Tanglewood, The Sejong Soloists and other worthy organizations. Special Thanks: Martha Potter Kim Itzhak Perlman Benita Valente Scott Yoo Karol Bennett Kyung Kang Hyo Kang Hyunah Yu Helen Zhibing Huang Paul Salerni Laura Johnson Lloyd Tanner Anthony Brandt Shih-Hui Chen John Harbison Kurt Stallmann Ole Akahoshi Yoobin Son Suliman Tekalli Chelsea Lane Haesue Lee Yoobin Son Xiao Dong Wang Andrew B. Kim Wan Kyun Rha Kim The International Sejong Soloists, Inc. Peter YS Kim Michael Armellino Eva Kim Shawna Kent Emily Odza Carolyn Kim Brian Kim Gregory Spivak Colin Kim Jeanne Bamberger Chris Brymer Anthony Checchia Alfred Guzzetti Rose Mary Harbison Pyong Yong Min Brian Thornton Felicia Paik Kim Ryan Spencer Kim Sabrina Hailey Kim David Y. Chung Shannan Leigh Reeve Da-Hong Seetoo Daniel "Funder" Funderbirk Nick Young Adam Boyer Patrick Bixby Jean-Michel Rabaté Yeeun Kim Robert Darwell Howard Paar Adam Bennati |
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The Point of Creation
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Falmouth, Massachusetts. Spending the day with Earl's wife, Martha Potter Kim, was a precious and unforgettable experience. Martha has opened her heart, life and family members exclusively for this project. As we talked for hours, Earl Kim's presence was undeniable and comforting. Martha revealed details about Earl's life previously held from public view. Martha herself is an accomplished musician having studied violin with Dorothy Delay and Ivan Galamian at Juilliard. She married Earl Kim in 1977. At their Cambridge home while Earl taught at Harvard, Martha provided an environment for Earl to create his profound compositions. Today, her home on Cape Cod is a living museum of photographs, oil paintings and artifacts. A few times we were interrupted by the bunnies outside her porch windows who gambled up to explore the activity. It was that magical. With principal photography now complete on the documentary (having filmed over thirty-three interviews over the course of more than a year), and post-production on the film in full swing, my team and I look forward to sharing these lifetime memories with you soon.
--Ty Kim July 2023 |