Dr. Seung Ah Kim, a native of Busan, Korea, received her doctorate in piano performance (DMA) at the University of South Carolina. She holds two master’s degrees in piano performance, one from Yonsei University in Korea and the other from The Cleveland Institute of Music.
Since 2006, she has taught applied piano and classical piano and accompanied college choirs as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she has also played for faculty and guest artist recital series. In addition to her vigorous solo performances, she has actively performed as a collaborating artist. Recent accompanied recitals at UNCP include world-famous player Øystein Baadsvik’s Tuba recital, New York City Opera Singers’ duo recital – Anna Vikre, soprano & Rod Nelman, bass, Dr. Terry Everson’s Trumpet recital, and Michele Gingras’s Clarinet recital. With her husband and tenor, Jaeyoon Kim, she has also presented art song recitals at various concerts in Ohio, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Korea. Her teachers include Dr. Charles Fugo and Dr. Daniel Shapiro.
Seung Ah started playing piano at worship services at her home church in Busan, Korea, at 13; she has been a church musician ever since. Before joining Westminster Presbyterian Church, she served as the organist, choir pianist, and handbell choir director at the Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC. She was also the music director at Maxton First Presbyterian Church from 2011-2014. She lives in Fayetteville with her husband and two daughters, Yuna (9th grade) and Angelina (8th grade). They plan to relocate near the Durham area by summer 2026. Born and raised in a Presbyterian family, Seung Ah is thrilled to return to the Presbyterian Church!
