RPO welcomes new Principal Cellist Ahrim Kim, second horn Maura McCune Corvington

September 22, 2015

RPO WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL CELLIST AHRIM KIM
Also new Second Horn Maura McCune Corvington

 

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) welcomes two new musicians this season, both of whom performed in the orchestra’s 93rd season opener this past weekend.

Ahrim Kim (The Clara and Edwin Strasenburgh Chair) is the RPO’s new principal cellist. Born in Seoul, Korea, Kim began her cello studies at age 6. She moved to the U.S. in 2002 and studied cello through Julliard’s Pre-College Division before earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music. This accomplished soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader has been awarded top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Gaspar Cassado International Cello Competition, Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Young Artists Competition, and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic String Competition. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Boston Pops, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. She joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for the 2014-15 season as acting principal cellist, and played in the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Kim was awarded the Arthur Foote Award from the Harvard Musical Association as the cellist of the Klimt Trio. 

Additionally, Kim’s husband, Robin Scott, was recently appointed first violin of the Ying Quartet, a Grammy Award-winning ensemble in residence at the Eastman School of Music.

“We’re thrilled that we will both be working in the same town,” she says. “We’ve been waiting for this to happen since we got married four years ago! We are very blessed to be starting a new chapter in our lives together.”

Maura McCune Corvington, the RPO’s new second horn, was most recently acting principal horn of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Hawaii Opera Theatre Orchestra, and she also performed throughout the Hawaiian Islands as the hornist of the Honolulu Brass Quintet. Equally devoted to music education, she was Lecturer of Horn at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. As an Eastman School of Music alumna, Corvington completed her Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance as a recipient of the Performer’s Certificate under the instruction of RPO Principal Horn, W. Peter Kurau, as well as graduating with a Secondary Piano Major. She earned her master’s from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Originally hailing from Wilmette, Illinois, Corvington was inspired at an early age by the renowned Chicago Symphony Brass, and she studied regularly with CSO hornists.

“It’s wonderful to be back in the vibrant musical community here in Rochester,” says Corvington, who moved here with her musician husband, trumpet player Patrick Corvington.“It is a joy performing for audiences in this world-class orchestra alongside my Eastman School mentor, and I’m looking forward to doing some mentoring of my own with the School’s Freshman Horn Studio this spring!”

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 160 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Recently appointed 12th Music Director Ward Stare joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 21-year tenure with the RPO. With Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first endowed position of its kind in the country – the RPO reaches more than 12,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children.

Media please note: High-resolution photos of both Ms. Kim and Ms. Corvington are available, and interviews can be arranged.

 

###