Tenor Jeduthun Kim Wins University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition

Congratulations to doctoral student and tenor Jeduthun Kim, winner of the 2021-2022 University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Kim will perform with the University Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. 

Yu-Chia Hsu, DMA violin, was named Honorable Mention and will also perform with the University Symphony Orchestra on March 2.

The USO Concerto Competition is an annual competition for full-time graduate and undergraduate music majors at the University of Minnesota to have the opportunity to perform their prepared concerto alongside a live orchestra. 

Judges Hannah Holman, Mark Mandarano and Stephen Alltop wish to extend their heartiest congratulations to all competitors. There were many powerful performances, and the judges were extremely impressed with the high level of preparation and musicianship. 

The School of Music extends a special thanks to all musicians who participated in this year’s competition, and to TAs and judges, and especially to Max Frank, Ensemble Coordinator.

Jeduthun Kim, voice 

Tenor Jeduthun Chung Gu Kim is a third-year DMA voice performance student studying with voice professor John De Haan. Kim is also pursuing a Secondary Area in Education and Pedagogy with Keitha Lucas Hamann.

Jeduthun has performed in various operas and oratorio concerts with New Rochelle Opera, Hudson Opera Theatre, New York Lyric Opera, Amore Opera, Wyckoff Opera, Martina Arroyo Foundation, the Korea National Opera, Chosun Opera, and the Garden State Philharmonic, Westchester Choral Society. Internationally, he has performed operatic and musical theatre gala concerts in Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Peru. His previous operatic role credits include Alfredo in La traviata, Don José in Carmen, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Dorvil in La Scala di Seta, Duke in Rigoletto, Duca d’Alziras in La zingara, Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte, Monsieur Vogelsang in Der Schauspieldirektor, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, Rodolfo in La bohème, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.

Passionate of sacred music, Jeduthun has been a featured tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Gounod’s St. Cecilia Solemn Mass, Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C major K.371, and Missa Brevis in G major K. 140. He was a winner of New York Lyric Opera National Competition, Peter Elvins Competition, John J. Cali Young Artist Award, and a finalist of American Opera Idol. 

Jeduthun earned his MM in Voice from New Jersey City University and BM in Voice from Hanyang University in South Korea. Jeduthun is happily living with his wonderful wife and soulmate Suzie and they are gratefully enjoying their lives in Minneapolis. 

Yu-Chia Hsu, violin

Yu-Chia Hsu is a third-year DMA student and Berneking Fellow studying with professor Sally O’Reilly. Hsu has won first prize in the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concerto Competition and Japan Classical Music Competition and received second prize and honorable mentions in the International Grieg Society of Minnesota String Competition, Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition, and Schlern International Music Festival.

Hsu has performed with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in music festivals in the US and abroad including the Shanghai International Violin Sonata Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Qingdao International Violin Festival, Great Mountain International Music Festival, Sewanee International Music Festival, University of Music Franz Liszt 57th Weimar Master Class, Pyeong Chang International Music Festival, Gonggong Music Academy Festival, Atlantic Music Festival, and Taipei Music Academy Festival.

Born in Taiwan, Yu-Chia began his studies on the violin at the age of seven. At the age of fifteen, he enrolled in the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, where he studied with professor Juin-Ying Lee. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the National University of Singapore - Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music with professor Zuo Jun and his master’s degree at the New England Conservatory with professor Ayano Ninomiya.