Lok Kim was in high school in his native South Korea when he attended a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and fell in love with classical music, leading him to pursue the study of music at Anyang University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in orchestral conducting.
He made his conducting debut in 2004, conducting the Gian Carlo Menotti opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, and in 2005 was named “promising young conductor of the year” by the Korean Conductor’s Association. He also had the opportunity to conduct the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the most prestigious orchestras in Korea, as well as serving as principal conductor of the UNI Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kim emigrated to the United States in 2006, continuing his education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he studied with Maestro Jooyong Ahn and earned his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting in 2009. Since 2009, he had served as Visiting Professor of Music at Covenant College, where his love of working with people serves his students well as he conducts the Chamber Orchestra and small ensembles, teaches classes, and directs musical theatre productions.
In addition to his duties at Covenant, Lok Kim also conducts the Cadek Orchestra and participates in numerous community opera and musical theatre productions. For the 90th annual meeting of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Chicago, he was invited to conduct the opera Naomi in the Living Room by Jonathan Bailey Holland. In 2010, the National Opera Association awarded him first and second prizes as conductor for the best opera production.
Currently he serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Covenant College and as Music Director at Chattanooga Clarinet Choir.