Canned as Concertmaster, Hired as Conductor

[Ralph]

Dennis Kim to Conduct Seoul Phil.


Violinist Dennis Kim has been selected to be the new conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kim, 30, is coming from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, where he became concertmaster in 2000. However, according to the Web site Musical America, Kim was dismissed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic in July for a breach of contract.

Kim, who was born in Korea and raised in Canada, was chosen after a series of auditions in April and May.

Aside from Kim, the orchestra also selected four new musicians.

Kim joins world-renowned Korean maestro Chung Myung-whun, who became artistic advisor and permanent director of the orchestra in March.