Chatham Student Performs at Kennedy Center

Rising senior MinJee Kim performed at the John F. Kennedy Center on June 24 with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) 2012 All-National Mixed Honor Choir.

Kim, a soprano, was among 300 students, including 30 from New Jersey, selected for the All-National Mixed Choir. The audition process for the choir was "highly competitive," according to Barbara Klemp, the Music and Theater chair at Chatham High and Jee's choral director.

NAfME's National Honor Ensembles collect the best voices from throughout the country. At their performance at the Kennedy Center, the choir was under the direction of Dr. Sandra Snow, Associate Professor of Music Education and Choral Conducting at Michigan State University.

“NAfME is pleased to offer this unique performance opportunity to a very select group of our nation's finest high school musicians,” said John Kuhner, NAfME Eastern Division's immediate past president and chair of the National Honor Ensembles Task Force.

Kim is also a member of Chatham High's Select Choir and participates in the Juilliard pre-college division for exceptionally talented high school musicians. She has performed at Lincoln Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and recently performed as the soprano soloist for Mozart’s Laudate Dominum in the Select Choir performance at Avery Fisher Hall.

Her experience in the Juilliard program has also given her the opportunity to perform in Alice Tully Hall. MinJee has also performed in County, Regional, and All-State Choral ensembles throughout her time at Chatham High.

“MinJee is truly an exceptional talent, and a delightful young woman to work with,” Klemp said. “MinJee is one who continues to look for challenges and is successful in meeting them. She is truly unique.”