Bio
150 words Bio
Kim Yoona is an Ajaeng player, composer, improviser, and music educator originally from Seoul, South Korea, who is currently active in Boston, USA. She intuitively and expressively conveys a wide sound spectrum using the Ajaeng, drawing from her diverse background in various genres, her unique performances blending traditional Korean elements with contemporary sensibilities.
She studied Korean Music and Musicology at Seoul National University in South Korea. To expand her musical horizons beyond Korean music, she received her Master’s and Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Musical Arts at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
She is a founder of Moderngagok, a contemporary Korean music ensemble. She collaborates with Roman Barten-Sherman in a duo that combines Korean music with Delta blues. An active free improviser, she has collaborated with Anthony Coleman, Chris Cochrane, Fay Victor and Satoshi Takeishi. Currently, she is pursuing her second Master’s degree at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.
