Violist Kim Namjung, First Asian Invited to the 48th International Viola Congress

Violist Kim Nam-jung has been invited to the 48th International Viola Congress (IVC), the first-ever event held in Asia.

Violist Kim Nam-jung.

The congress will take place from the 6th to the 10th at the Faculty of Music, Mahidol University in Thailand. Kim Nam-jung will perform in an invited solo recital on the final day of the congress.

The International Viola Congress was founded in 1968 by Austrian violist and viola historian Franz Zeyringer. It is an international organization for violists that organizes and sponsors the congress annually. Since 1973, the congress has been held mainly in Europe and North America, starting in Germany and including the United States, France, and Austria. This is the first time the congress is being held in Asia.

This year’s International Viola Congress is themed “Music Without Borders.” Kim Nam-jung said, “I have heard a lot about the International Viola Congress, but this is my first time participating. It is very meaningful that this congress, which has been held only in Europe and the United States for 48 years, is now being held in Asia for the first time, with Asian violists including myself actively participating.”

He added, “It will be a great opportunity for violists to gather and share new viola repertoires, performance techniques, expressive directions, research on composers, and the current status of violists worldwide all in one place, so I am very much looking forward to it.”

At the invited solo recital, Kim Nam-jung will perform works by Bruch, Widor, and Piazzolla. He said, “I selected pieces by these composers that particularly express a lot of passion. Through this performance, I hope the audience will be able to rekindle pure passion and energy.”

An official from the International Viola Congress stated, “The theme of this year’s congress, ‘Music Without Borders,’ represents music that transcends geographical and psychological boundaries. We hope that everyone at the International Viola Congress can enjoy a serene concert environment while embarking on an auditory journey with the finest performers.”

Kim Nam-jung first gained recognition as the first violist to perform a solo recital at the UN Headquarters General Assembly Hall in New York and received the UN International Peace Contribution Artist Award. He has been consistently invited to recitals at world-renowned concert halls including Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. Holding a Ph.D. in Integrated Arts, he founded the Convergent Performing Arts Association, expanding his role as a planner and artistic director. Recently, he was appointed president of the Korean Alumni Association of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and successfully led the ‘Harmony Homecoming’ alumni concert held in May at Indiana University in the United States.