Pianist Sumi Kim was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, where she began piano studies at the age of five. While completing her first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Food Biotechnology, she continued to pursue piano as an amateur musician, winning the grand prize in the amateur category at the Virtuoso International Competition/Audition held in Seoul, which led to a recommendation from the committee to pursue further studies in Europe, but instead, she chose to relocate to Canada. During her time in Yukon, Canada, Kim was an active soloist and collaborative pianist in the Whitehorse music scene. Her performances included the Gallery Recital Series at the Yukon Arts Centre, the Rotary Music Festival, Whitehorse Community Choir, and various solo recitals. Her passion for music and a desire to expand her knowledge propelled her to audition for music schools shortly after.

Kim earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, studying with Dr. Younggun Kim. During her undergraduate years, she performed extensively both within the university and beyond, including the Lunchtime Chamber Music series at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Friday Noontime Recitals at St. Andrew’s Church, the Royal Ontario Museum, and other venues, as well as collaborations as a soloist with several community orchestras. Her trio, formed with fellow students, received the Felix Galimir Award, given annually to the most promising string or piano chamber music group at the Faculty of Music, and performed in the faculty’s Thursdays at Noon Series. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Performance Diploma under the guidance of Professor Jonathan Bass at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she won first place in the school’s annual Churchill Scholarship Competition and Piano Honors Competition.