Steinway and Sons is one of the most renowned piano brands in the world. In 1853, German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway and his sons began to hand craft pianos one at a time, turning this craft into a family legacy that continues to live on today.

Since then, Steinway and Sons has chosen to recognize incredible piano talent by awarding musicians with a spot on their list of prestigious piano performers. Members of this impressive roster include many famous names in the classical world and the jazz and pop world of piano as well. The roster includes Harry Connick Jr., renowned concert pianist Lang Lang, and famous composers Sergei Rachmaninoff and Gioacchino Rossini.

Millikin University’s very own Dr. Chung-Ha Kim has now received her place on this prestigious list. Dr. Kim is professor at Millikin University, in addition to teaching piano, Dr. Kim is both a solo and collaborative pianist.

When asked what it meant to her to be named a Steinway Artist, Dr. Kim said, “It’s a huge honor because there are world famous names on that roster . . . Obviously I’m not of the same caliber as some of these great artists, so it’s a huge honor. But for me it has sentimental value as well.”

Kim was 12 years old when her parents bought her a Steinway grand piano, her very first.

“I remember coming home from school, walking into our music room, and there it was, a gleaming Steinway,” Kim said. “I had only had an upright until then; so having a grand piano to practice on was a huge motivating factor.”

Dr. Kim’s passion for the piano was instilled in her at a very young age when she would fall asleep at night listening to her parents practice. She earned her bachelor of music in piano at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, her Master of music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Conservatory Music.

Dr. Kim’s love for teaching began at an early age when she would come home from school and teach her younger brother everything she had learned that day.

“It must have started early, my desire to share my knowledge with others, and I think it was during graduate school that I really found a passion for teaching,” Dr. Kim said. “I was given a teaching assistantship and I didn’t have a lot of teaching experience prior to getting that assistantship.

“My supervisor took a risk on me because I was not experienced, but she must have sensed something in me. My teaching duties included teaching group piano and private one-on-one lessons. I really enjoyed it, and I thought, ‘Okay, I think I have found my calling here.’”

Over the course of her 32 years of piano experience, starting when she was six, Dr. Kim said that her passion and ability to put emotion into her pieces has grown greatly since becoming a mother.

“I also feel that having become a mom – I have a four year old son – has changed my playing,” Kim said. “I feel I put a lot more of my soul into my playing, which was very difficult for me when I was younger.

“I was a very shy and restrained person. I had a hard time sharing emotions with other people through my music. While my playing was technically very accurate, very precise, many people commented that it lacked emotion and depth, and I feel that over the past [few] years, I have come closer to achieving the balance between technical skill and emotional depth.”

Dr. Kim wanted to emphasize the importance of networking to which she states she owes this honor of being named a Steinway Artist. She wants Millikin students to understand the power of networking, making and maintaining good relationships with people in their field.

“I want to emphasize the importance of networking. I would not have applied for Steinway Artists if two friends had not encouraged me,” Dr. Kim said. “I consider myself very fortunate. I feel that’s an important lesson to take away.

“The music world is relatively small. If you know people and you maintain positive relationships it can really help you in your personal growth and in your professional career. It’s something that I want Millikin students to take away from this. “

Dr. Kim’s recent achievement just goes to show the type of reputable and well accomplished faculty that Millikin takes great pride in employing.