BIOGRAPHY

Tenor Hansu Kim was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. He pursued musical studies at Yonsei University School of Music and earned a Bachelor of Music with scholarship in 1998. Soon after his graduation, he moved to the United States and studied at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music with scholarship in 2002. He studied under the guidance of the renowned Heldentenor and Kammersänger, James King and the Kennedy Prize winner, Martina Arroyo and the three-time GRAMMY nominee for Best Opera Recording in 1984, 1993, and 2007, Carol Vaness. He received further training through Masterclasses with distinguished artists such as Lucine Amara, Francisco Casanova, Lando Bartolini, Claudia Visca, Franco Silvestri, Chris Merritt and Christian Starinieri. Hansu’s operatic career has seen him performing a wide range of leading tenor roles across prominent opera houses and festivals in the United States. In 2006, he appeared as Radames in Aida and Manrico in Il Trovatore with One World Symphony. He portrayed Don José in Carmen (2008) with Bel Cantanti Opera. His repertoire also includes Calaf in Turandot (New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, 2010), Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Harmonia Opera at the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, 2011), and Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana (Opera Camerata of Washington, 2012). His concert engagements have been equally impressive. He has made three appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium with MidAmerica Productions and the New Jersey Philharmonic (2005, 2007, 2009). His oratorio performances include Schubert’s Mass in G Major (2007) and Haydn’s Missa in tempore belli (2009). Moreover, he was featured in gala concerts for esteemed audiences, including a 2008 performance for Korean President, Myung-bak Lee and a 2010 concert for New Jersey Governor, Jon Corzine. Hansu Kim honed his craft as an artist with the Utah Festival Opera, Dicapo Opera and Pacific Encore Performances. His vocal development was further supported by coaching from the Metropolitan Opera conductors Steven Crawford, Gregory Buchalter, and Louis Salemno, and professors Claudia Visca, Marcin Kozieł and Joëlle Bouffa of the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien (MDW) - Institut für Gesang und Musiktheater in Vienna, Austria, solidifying his place as a sought-after tenor in both operatic and concert settings. Hansu Kim teaches at Seoul Theological University School of Music, Seoul, South Korea as a Voice Professor. Throughout his career, Hansu Kim has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. 

Below is the list of his achievements from the prominent competitions all around the world.

1st Prize     The New York Classical Music Competition 2025, New York, USA

1st Prize     The London Classical Music Competition 2025, London, United Kingdom

1st Prize     The New York International Music Competition 2025, New York, USA

1st Prize    The Medici International Music Competition 2025, London, United Kingdom

1st Prize     The American International Music Competition 2025, New York, USA

1st Prize     The International Schubert Competition Vienna 2025, Vienna, Austria

1st Prize     The Claude Debussy Competition Paris 2025, Paris, France

1st Prize     The Amadeus International Music Awards 2025, Vienna, Austria

1st Prize     The Virtuoso International Music Awards 2025, London, United Kingdom

1st Prize         The American Classical Music Awards 2025, New York, USA

1st Prize         The Vienna International Music Competition 2025, Vienna, Austria

1st Prize         The Birmingham International Music Competition 2024, Birmingham, United Kingdom

1st Prize         The Gold International Classical Music Competition 2024, London, United Kingdom

1st Prize        The European Virtuoso Music Awards 2024, Berlin, Germany

1st Prize       The Clara Schumann International Competition 2024, Brussels, Belgium

1st Prize         The Arizona International Music Competition 2024, Pheonix, USA

1st Prize       The Swiss International Music Competition 2024, Lugano, Switzerland

1st Prize         The Euterpe International Music Awards 2024, Berlin, Germany

1st Prize         The Gulf Musician International Competition 2024, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

1st Prize       The Servaas International Music Competition 2024, London, Unted Kingdom

1st Prize          The Royal Maas International Music Competition 2024, London, United Kingdom

1st Prize      The World Stage International Music Competition 2024, London, United Kingdom

1st Prize         The Accadia Foundation International Vocal Competition 2010, New York, USA

1st Prize          The Olga Forrai Foundation International Competition 2004, New York, USA

1st Prize      The Dicapo Opera International Vocal Competition 2002, New York, USA