Miran Kim
has studied the violin since she
was four years old. At age ten, she moved to
New York City to study at the Julliard School
of Music’s Pre-College Division, and served
as concertmaster of all three orchestras
there. She received a bachelor’s degree
from the Cleveland Institute of Music and
recently finished her first year of her master’s
degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School
of Music. In addition to joining the Grant
Park Orchestra in the first violin section this
summer, Kim will be starting a new position
at the Houston Symphony in the fall.
What would you be if you were not a
musician?
I would go probably go into visual arts -
maybe photography or graphic design. I’ve
been known to doodle on just about any
surface.
What are some of your hobbies?
When I have the time, I like to bake sweets
and desserts. Photography has always been
fun, though I’m not very experienced at it.
Have you spent much time in Chicago?
I have family in Chicago, so I visited a couple
times when I was a kid and loved it!
What are you looking forward to about
summer in Chicago, besides the Grant
Park Music Festival of course?
Having grown up in NYC, I’m so excited to
be in a big city again!
After joining the Grant Park Orchestra as
a seasonal substitute during the 2012
Season,
Melissa Chung Hamlen
returns this year as a section second
violinist. She grew up in Buffalo Grove,
studied at the Eastman School of Music
and the Cleveland Institute of Music, and
currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan
where she plays with the Grand Rapids
Symphony. Hamlen has performed with
numerous orchestras around the country,
including the Detroit Symphony, the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the
New World Symphony.
What are some of your career highlights?
In 2006, sitting Assistant Concertmaster of
the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra,
conducted by James Levine for a concert
performance of “Elektra.” And in 2008,
while on tour with the New World
Symphony, performing in the historical
amphitheater of the Alhambra of Granada,
Spain for a late-night concert performance
of “Porgy and Bess.” It was such a beautiful
setting.
Who are some of your musical heroes?
My violin teachers: William Preucil and the
late Zvi Zeitlin.
What would you be if you were not a
musician?
I would love to own a bakery/coffee shop.
What are you most looking forward to
about summer in Chicago, besides the
Grant Park Music Festival of course?
I’m looking forward to eating my way
through Chicago!
Meet Our New Musicians
