Young Hae Kim

Founder

Young Hae Kim began studying piano at the age of five and quickly proved to be a

very talented child pianist. In 1973, she and her family moved from South Korea

to the United States where she continued her studies. In 1974 she was selected as

the first pianist for the newly established Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra with

Maestro Michael Palmer conducting.

Mrs. Kim successfully auditioned for and attended the prestigious, internationally

renowned Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University,

graduating with a degree in piano performance. While there, she was mentored

by Tinka Knoff and Ellen Mack.

Mrs. Kim is the recipient of several honors and awards, including a Hank Aaron

Scholarship.

After graduating from Peabody, she returned to Atlanta, Georgia, where she

brought to life her dream of combining the best of music and performance

education by founding the Atlanta Music Academy. For over 40 years, she has

succeeded in recruiting only the best of Atlanta’s professional music performers

to teach at the Academy.

Under Mrs. Kim’s direction, AMA produces students who excel in All-State, the

Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Emory Youth Orchestra and many other

honors music programs throughout Georgia. A number of AMA students

matriculate to prestigious music programs at Julliard, Indiana University, The

Cleveland Institute, the Peabody Conservatory, to name just a few.

Her passion for performance and education has flourished, resulting in now two

locations for AMA – Suwanee and Sugar Hill, Georgia.

Mrs. Kim is a dedicated and generous member of the community. She is active in

her church and its ministries as well as the Korean community. Mrs. Kim has

served as Vice President of the Korean Community Association. Most recently,

she founded the non-profit KWave Outreach, which is a cultural and musical

education program dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Korean

heritage through traditional and modern influences through music, art, language

and cuisine.