Sooah Kim is recognized for her refined artistry, expressive depth, and versatility across solo, chamber, and collaborative repertoire. She received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Artist Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University on full scholarships, as an Excellence in Music Leadership Fellow, under the mentorship of Yong Hi Moon. She previously earned her Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, studying with Hung Kuan Chen as a recipient of the L&M Burle and Joseph Fidelman Scholarship. Prior to her graduate studies in the United States, she graduated summa cum laude from Yonsei University under Yung Wook Yoo and was featured as the representative soloist at the Chosunilbo Debut Concert, following her formative musical training at Seoul Arts High School.

Sooah distinguished herself in Korea by winning top prizes at major national competitions including the Eumyeon Competition, the Beethoven Competition, the Journal of Music Competition, the Korea Herald Competition, the Haneum Music Competition, the Korea Mozart Competition, and the Seoul-Asia International Music Competition. Her international recognition grew further when she was named a laureate of the American International Piano Competition and, shortly thereafter, invited as a full-fellowship artist to the Gilmore International Piano Festival in 2022 and 2023. She has also performed recitals and chamber music at the world’s premier venues: Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Paul Hall at The Juilliard School, Steinway Hall New York, the DiMenna Center’s Norman S. Benzaquen Hall, Aspen’s Harris Concert Hall, Fort Collins’ Griffin Concert Hall, Baltimore’s Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall, Kalamazoo’s Dalton Recital Hall, Dubai’s Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Music Hall, and Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, among others.

As a versatile collaborator, Sooah has shared the stage with revered artists including Maria João Pires at the Gilmore Piano Festival Partitura Project and soprano Hera Hyesang Park from the Metropolitan Opera. She has participated in masterclasses with Richard Goode, Alexander Schimpf, Paul Schenly, Ilya Scheps, and Michelle Cann. Selected as a full fellowship pianist over multiple seasons at the Aspen Music Festival, she also presented solo and chamber performances, further developing her collaborative musicianship.