william kim,
principal
Serving as Principal Timpani of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, William Kim completed his Master of Music in Percussion Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, studying with John Tafoya, Joseph Gramley, and Kevin Bobo. William also completed undergraduate studies at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music (Ontario, Canada), studying with Dr. Jill Ball.
His many accolades include the Platinum Medal at the 2023 Grand Maestro International Music Competition, Best Professional Percussion Player and Gold Medal at the 2023 Amadeus International Music Awards, and Third Grand Prize at the Chicago International Music Competition (Professional Category – all instruments).
William has performed as Guest Principal Timpani with the Erie Philharmonic, and has also presented a guest timpani clinic at the Louisiana State University College of Music & Dramatic Arts. Other notable performances include the Festival of the Sound in Ontario, Canada under the baton of James Sommerville, and in collaboration with Beverley Johnston, as well as at Mount Allison University (New Brunswick, Canada). He was an invited participant to the PRISMA Festival & Academy (British Columbia, Canada), where he worked with Bill Linwood, and Rice University’s International Timpani Intensive, where he received mentorship from leading orchestral timpanists including Jauvon Gilliam, Michael Israelievitch, Joseph Pereira, Leonardo Soto, Matthew Strauss, and Nick Woud. Other notable masterclasses and collaborations include with Jeremy Epp, Jason Haaheim, Mark Latimer, Erich Rieppel, and Bill Shaltis.
Outside of music, he enjoys chess, traveling, and cheering for his favorite hockey team, the Winnipeg Jets.