ABOUT THE TEACHER

PROFESSIONAL BIO

Joohee Kim is a pianist, composter, theorist and educator. She received her bachelors of music performance from UCI under the tutelage of Dr. Lorna Griffit. After obtaining her piano performance degree, she changed her emphasis to composition for her masters degree at Cal State Fullerton.  There, she studied under esteemed professors such as Lloyd Rodgers and Pamela Madsen. Her master's thesis, an orchestral piece titled "The Awakening," conducted by Kimo Furumoto, Orchestra Director at CSUF, garnered an award from the composition department.

Following the completion of her Masters, Ms. Joohee embarked on further studies in the Scoring for Motion Pictures and TV graduate program at USC Thornton School of Music, renowned globally for its excellence in musical composition for visual media. At USC, she had the privilege of studying under the legendary composer Jack Smalley, best known for his work on TV series such as "Charlie’s Angels" and "Murder, She Wrote."

During her time at USC, Joohee composed numerous orchestral pieces, many of which were recorded at Paramount Recording Studios, Hollywood. She also collaborated with aspiring young directors from the American Film Institute (AFI), scoring several short films. Additionally, she gained valuable experience as an intern for film composer Christopher Young, celebrated for his work in horror and thriller films, including "Hellraiser," "Spider-Man 3," "The Grudge," and "Urban Legend."

Ms. Joohee is not only a detail-oriented composer but also an experienced music instructor with a passion for providing tailored lessons to students of all ages. Her areas of expertise include classical, jazz, film music, and advanced theory.