Join SMTD faculty Matt Albert, violin and Matthew Thompson, piano, as they perform Texu Kim’s Sonata Amabile. The composer, Dr. Texu Kim, will situate the piece and his compositional process in a lively and interactive discussion interspersed between the movements.
Matthew Thompson, DMA, is currently Assistant Professor of Music - Voice & Opera at the SMTD. He is active as a pianist, conductor, author, and teacher. Dr. Thompson was recently described by a former student as “giving one of the most wholesome, nerdy, epic-but-modest unicorn professor experiences you’ll ever have at U-M.” As a pianist, Thompson has performed with operatic celebrities like Thomas Hampson, Golden Mask award winner, Vince Yi, and musical theater gurus like Gavin Creel. Dr. Thompson’s first book, The Video Game Phenomenon: Press Ab to Play, is forthcoming (Intellect Publishing, 2026). He has viral performances of K-ArtSong with millions of views and his research in this field (koreanartsongresource.com) led to today’s collaboration.
Violinist and violist Matt Albert is the Chair of Chamber Music at the University of Michigan. He was a founding member of Eighth Blackbird, with whom he received numerous awards, including first prizes at the Naumburg, Concert Artists Guild, Coleman, and Fischoff Competitions, and three Grammy awards. He serves as the concertmaster for Nu Deco Ensemble and regularly plays as the violist with Alarm Will Sound. Previous collaborations include work with Seraphic Fire, the International Contemporary Ensemble, Wilco, the Shreveport Symphony (as concertmaster), and the Sarasota Orchestra (as associate concertmaster). In the summers he plays principal second violin for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Texu Kim (김택수, he/him) is “one of the most active and visible composers of his generation” (San Francisco Classical Voice) who writes music that is fun, sophisticated, and culturally connected. Having served as the Composer-in-Residence of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, he is an associate professor at San Diego State University. His music has been programmed by the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, LA Phil, San Francisco Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Alarm Will Sound, etc. Winner of the 2021 Barlow Prize, he has received honors from the Fromm Foundation, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, the Copland House, SCI/ASCAP, and more.
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
Matthew Thompson, DMA, is currently Assistant Professor of Music - Voice & Opera at the SMTD. He is active as a pianist, conductor, author, and teacher. Dr. Thompson was recently described by a former student as “giving one of the most wholesome, nerdy, epic-but-modest unicorn professor experiences you’ll ever have at U-M.” As a pianist, Thompson has performed with operatic celebrities like Thomas Hampson, Golden Mask award winner, Vince Yi, and musical theater gurus like Gavin Creel. Dr. Thompson’s first book, The Video Game Phenomenon: Press Ab to Play, is forthcoming (Intellect Publishing, 2026). He has viral performances of K-ArtSong with millions of views and his research in this field (koreanartsongresource.com) led to today’s collaboration.
Violinist and violist Matt Albert is the Chair of Chamber Music at the University of Michigan. He was a founding member of Eighth Blackbird, with whom he received numerous awards, including first prizes at the Naumburg, Concert Artists Guild, Coleman, and Fischoff Competitions, and three Grammy awards. He serves as the concertmaster for Nu Deco Ensemble and regularly plays as the violist with Alarm Will Sound. Previous collaborations include work with Seraphic Fire, the International Contemporary Ensemble, Wilco, the Shreveport Symphony (as concertmaster), and the Sarasota Orchestra (as associate concertmaster). In the summers he plays principal second violin for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Texu Kim (김택수, he/him) is “one of the most active and visible composers of his generation” (San Francisco Classical Voice) who writes music that is fun, sophisticated, and culturally connected. Having served as the Composer-in-Residence of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, he is an associate professor at San Diego State University. His music has been programmed by the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, LA Phil, San Francisco Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Alarm Will Sound, etc. Winner of the 2021 Barlow Prize, he has received honors from the Fromm Foundation, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, the Copland House, SCI/ASCAP, and more.
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
| Building: | Earl V. Moore Building |
|---|---|
| Event Type: | Performance |
| Tags: | Asia, Korea, Music, Performance |
| Source: | Happening @ Michigan from Nam Center for Korean Studies, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, International Institute, Asian Languages and Cultures |
