Orchestra Director

Young K. Kim is a distinguished educator and conductor, currently serving as the Director of Orchestras at Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek, Georgia. With over three decades of experience in music education, Kim has become a prominent figure in the Georgia music community and beyond. His career spans a variety of teaching and conducting roles, from middle school to high school, and includes numerous performances at prestigious events both domestically and internationally.

Kim’s journey in music education began with his studies at Georgia State University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and Master of Music Education (M.M.Ed.) degrees. His professional career includes teaching positions at Camp Creek Middle School (1988-1992), Riverwood High School (1992-1997), and Centennial High School (1997-2009), before taking the helm at Johns Creek High School, where he has shaped the orchestra program for over a decade.

Under Kim’s guidance, his ensembles have achieved remarkable success and recognition. His groups have performed four times at the prestigious Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago—once with the Centennial High School Orchestra in 2005 and three times with the Johns Creek High School Orchestra (2012, 2017, and 2022). These performances featured prominent soloists, including Chris Martin, Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, and William Pu, former Associate Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Kim’s orchestras have been featured at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference in Savannah on seven occasions and performed at the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) in 2002.

Kim’s influence extends beyond national borders, as he has led his orchestras on six European concert tours, performing in cities such as Salzburg, Vienna, Munich, Rome, and Prague. His students have had the opportunity to showcase their talents at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Spivey Hall, and the Georgia Governor’s Mansion. His orchestras have consistently earned SUPERIOR ratings at the GMEA District V Orchestra Large-Group Performance Evaluation.

An active clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, Young Kim has shared his expertise at music camps and festivals across the United States and abroad. He was a member of the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program faculty for four years and has guest-conducted numerous All-State and Honor Orchestras throughout the country. His involvement with summer music camps includes conducting at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp and the University of Georgia Summer Music Camp, among others.

In addition to his work with public school orchestras, Kim has been deeply involved in the Korean-American community in Atlanta. He founded and conducted the Korean-American Youth Center Orchestra (KAYCO) (청소년 센타 오케스트라) from 1994 to 1998, a group that performed at notable events, including the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. He has also directed the Korean-American Chamber Orchestra, composed of top student musicians and alumni of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Throughout his career, Kim has held leadership roles in several professional organizations. He served as the GMEA District V Orchestra Chair and has been involved in organizing several major music events, including the District V Orchestra Large Group Performance Evaluation and the Fulton County High School Honor Orchestra.

Kim’s exceptional contributions to music education have been widely recognized. In 2006, he was named the “Georgia Music Educator of the Year” by the Georgia Music Educators Association. He was also named the “S.T.A.R. Teacher” at Johns Creek High School in 2010, 2012, and 2018, and received the “Teacher of the Year” award for the 2011-2012 school year. More recently, he was honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Georgia chapter of the American String Teachers Association (GA ASTA).

Kim’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society in Education. He has been listed in multiple editions of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” and the National Register’s “Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals.”

In addition to his role at Johns Creek High School, Young Kim is the Co-Conductor of the Fulton County Youth Orchestra. He is also the current Head Adjudicator for the GMEA Orchestra Large Group Performance Evaluation.

• Click here to meet the director (2012 interview)