Bio

Yonghyun Kim, South Korean baritone, is a doctoral candidate (ABD) in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of North Texas, where he studies with Dr. Stephen Morscheck. He has performed an extensive range of operatic roles, including Marcello (La Bohème), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Don Alfonso and Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Peter (Hänsel und Gretel), Escamillo (Carmen), Il Conte di Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus).

In 2025, Kim performed the title role in Rachmaninoff’s Aleko and sang Marcello in La Bohème with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra. His upcoming engagements include Melisso in Alcina with UNT Opera and Escamillo in Carmen with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra in March.

Kim earned his Bachelor of Music from Seoul National University, where he studied with renowned Wagnerian bass Philip Kang, and his Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with James Morris. He continued his training at the Accademia AMO of the Teatro Coccia di Novara in Italy, working with Paoletta Marrocu, and made his Italian opera debut there. In 2021, he made his Korean operatic debut at the Sejong Grand Theater.

He has received multiple first prizes, including the UNT Concerto Competition (Winner, 2022), the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition (First Prize, 2023), and the AIMS Vocal Competition (First Prize, 2024). Most recently, he was awarded 2nd Prize in the Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition, hosted by the National Opera Association.

Kim has appeared as a fellowship singer at the Aspen Music Festival on full scholarship and participated in the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS), also on full scholarship. During AIMS, he performed Scarpia (Tosca) in the Puccini Concert at the Musikverein and Valentin (Faust) in the Meistersinger Concert at Helmut-List-Halle in Graz, Austria.

In addition to his performance career, Kim is an active educator. He has served as a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas and, since 2025, has been a voice instructor at Prime Music Institute. Since 2023, he has also worked as a Resident Artist at Birchman Baptist Church. He maintains a vibrant professional presence as a principal soloist with professional music organizations, educational institutions, and church music ministries, and is dedicated to community engagement through frequent participation in charitable and outreach performances.