Nicholas Kim, cello

Meet Nicholas

Nicholas appears on Show 459.

Nicholas Kim (cello), 17, first began his studies at the Pre-College Division of the Manhattan School of Music in 2015 at 8 years old. He is currently under the tutelage of Marion Feldman since 2020 and additional studies have been with Madeleine Golz, Sondra Tammam, and Adam Kent.

Nicholas made his debut as a soloist at the Neidorff-Karpati Hall of the Manhattan School of Music at just eleven years old under conductor Felipe Tristan as the First Prize winner of the schools concerto competition. Kim was named a finalist at the XI Camerata Artists International Competition and will be playing alongside the Camerata Orchestra of NJ this coming March. He was also named a 2024 From the Top Fellow/Finalist and was broadcast on National Public Radio. Following his debut, some of his most prestigious accolades include being a recipient of the 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Artist Award, being named a 2025 YoungArts Winner by the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists, advancing to the semi-finals of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Program, winning the Aaron Rosand Memorial First Prize at the NYYPP, among others. Last year he was awarded First Prize of the Manhattan School of Music Philharmonic Competition with his performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the MSM Philharmonic under Nathan Hetherington.

Nicholas has appeared with various orchestras including the Camerata Orchestra of NJ, the New Sussex Symphony, the Summit Symphony, the MSM Repertory, and the MSM Philharmonic. His recent performances have spanned distinguished venues, including Stern and Weill Halls at Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, the United Palace Theatre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nicholas has appeared on broadcasting stations WQXR, National Public Radio, and From The Top. Also this past year, Nicholas participated in masterclasses led by renowned musicians such as Hayoung Choi, Laurence Lesser, Clara Minhye Kim, Brannon Cho, David Ying, and Amit Peled.

As a result of his efforts, Nicholas was awarded numerous scholarships, including the Phillip Kawin Scholarship, the Alex Association Music Project Endowed Scholarship, the Cuker/Stern Endowed Scholarship, the Dianne Danes Flagello Scholarship, and the Marion Feldman Scholarship, of which he is a two-time recipient. As a member of the Grammy-winning New York Youth Symphony, Nicholas was awarded the 2024 Vargas-Vetter/Ukena Fellowship as well. As a member of the New York Youth Symphony, he has collaborated with musicians Augustin Hadelich, Zhu Wang, Clayton Stephenson, and Alexa Jarvis. Nicholas will play on a Lucchi cello bow generously on loan from The Maestro Foundation in March of 2025.

Receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award will allow Nicholas to continue his education at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Program, and continue with private lessons in both cello and piano. The funds will also cover recording studio fees for his college audition recordings as well as important instrument repair needs.

Nicholas is a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist.
Scholarship Year: 2025