(Photo courtesy of High Desert Chamber Music)
Violinist Kevin Kumar and High Desert Chamber Music Executive Director Isabelle Senger first met each other in the Korean-American Youth Orchestra when they were eleven years old. Both went on to successful careers as professional violinists and recording artists, and enjoy coming together to perform in the Pasadena-based Crown City String Quartet.
Praised by the press for his “sense of sheer enjoyment” and having “the precision and tonal richness of a virtuoso”, Kevin has appeared as soloist with a variety of orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has been active as an orchestral player, serving as Concertmaster of the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra under Valeri Gergiev and Semyon Bychkov in tours throughout major European cultural centers, and was personally invited by Sir Georg Solti to participate in the Solti Project at Carnegie Hall.
Kevin has performed in various ensembles and festivals internationally, and has participated in numerous radio and television broadcasts. He has given the world premieres of chamber music and solo works by modern composers, and he is also active in the television and motion picture industry, having played on scores by composers such as John Williams, Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer.
In addition to attending Columbia University and the Manhattan School of Music, Kevin received the Jascha Heifetz Scholarship and his Advanced Studies in Music Diploma from the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. He plays an 1837 Rafael & Antonio Gagliano violin as well as a modern instrument by Los Angeles maker Mario Miralles.
You can hear Kevin Kumar perform at COCC’s Wille Hall when High Desert Chamber Music’s 11th season continues with the Crown City String Quartet on Saturday, December 1 at 7:30pm. They will be joined by clarinetist Donald Foster, principal musician for movie composer John Williams, for two of the best known clarinet quintets ever written. Tickets are available through High Desert Chamber Music by phone or online. Come hear the music!