In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, Furkhan welcomes classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim, who shares her fascinating life story. Starting with a childhood Love for music, Jeeyoon details her struggles with Family expectations, a tumultuous relationship with her father, and a challenging Marriage. Despite these obstacles, she found solace and meaning in music. Jeeyoon emphasizes the power of storytelling and emotional connection in her performances and describes how she uses music to heal herself and others. She also touches on her journey as an author and her ongoing efforts to break free from past relationship patterns. This heartfelt conversation delves into the transformative power of music and the resilience required to overcome life’s adversities.
Award-winning classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim has delighted audiences across the United States and the world with her combination of sensitive artistry, consummate musicianship, impeccable technique, and engaging and innovative concert experiences.’ (New York Classical Review)
Since her celebrated 2016 debut album 10 More Minutes, Jeeyoon has continued to captivate listeners with her artistry and heartfelt communication on stage. Her second album and concert project, Over. Above. Beyond, expanded the boundaries of traditional piano performance through an innovative collaboration with New York-based visual artist Moonsub Shin. The resulting multimedia concert and its award-winning music video exemplified Jeeyoon’s commitment to creating a new concert experience that unites sound, imagery, and emotion.
Her next project, 시음 /si-úm/—developed during her residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s “Concert in the 21st Century” program—fused poetry, black-and-white photography, and music to explore the intersection of sound, silence, and the senses.
In 2025, Jeeyoon releases her latest album, Radiance, a collaboration with contemporary visual artists from ten different countries that offers a new light and interpretation of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Through this project, she reimagines the iconic work with a modern sensibility—blending sound, colour, and visual storytelling to invite audiences into a fresh, immersive experience. Radiance celebrates light in all its forms: emotional, spiritual, and artistic.
Also in 2025, Jeeyoon expands her artistic storytelling through her fourth book, Beyond the Keys: Music and Stories of Inspiration. The book pairs fifty-two reflective essays with QR-linked piano performances, inviting readers to experience her music and writing in harmony. It follows her previous books, including Whenever You’re Ready (2021), a self-help memoir in concert form that resonated deeply with readers worldwide and became a top-three bestseller in South Korea’s self-help category.
Jeeyoon began studying the piano at the age of four, and her love of music propelled her through her undergraduate studies in piano performance in her native South Korea. After moving to the United States, she earned her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance, with Distinction, from Indiana University’s renowned Jacobs School of Music.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:51 Early Life and Musical Beginnings
02:08 Family Struggles and Determination
06:03 Reconnecting with Father
09:13 Life in America and Marriage
11:03 Challenges and Divorce
17:03 New Beginnings and Career Shift
19:29 Creating and Funding an Album
24:28 The Power of Storytelling in Music
34:35 The Healing Power of Music
36:59 Connecting with Composers
38:58 The Language of Music
46:03 Performance and Anxiety
54:36 Personal Growth and Relationships
01:01:16 Choosing Light and Letting Go
01:08:24 Final Thoughts and Resources
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