I am just now beginning to come down from the surreality that was this past Sunday — it was, without a doubt, the most meaningful and magical day of my life.
In honor of my father’s 70th birthday, with the help of our distinguished guest violist Nobuko Imai and many others, we presented him — in-between quintets by Mozart and Mendelssohn — with a special, monogrammed Japanese piñata, a surprise visit and performance with my brother Daniel (who secretly flew in from New York), four secret commissions written in honor of the occasion by John Harbison, Steve Heitzeg, Peter Child, and Stan Skrowaczewski, and concluded the celebration with the YNK SSO — the “Young-Nam Kim Secret Surprise Orchestra” — comprised of 29 of his current and former students performing the slow movement of Mozart’s final quartet all together on stage. There were and still are no words to describe the emotions of the day; I leave you with the photos and videos below.











super wonderful, congratulations!
Thanks, Lev, it was an unbelievable evening!
What a beautiful event! Your father must have been so happy and proud and…surprised…!
Thank you, Amy! It was indeed an unforgettable day — I think we’re all still a bit surprised =)
To read that this was the most meaningful and magical day of your life, and to have shared in this…wow!! Feeling so honored! Thank you Ariana!
Right back at you, Eli!
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So nice to discover someone with some unique thoughts on this subject matter.
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