In his first recital since the start of the COVID pandemic, Dr. Kim guided the full-house audience through the music of Mozart (with the reflections of opera); to Chopin (with the beginnings of the use of pedals); to the almost-orchestral sounds of Brahms; to the French impressions of Debussy, and to the stellar Gershwin and the most glorious Rhapsody in Blue. A soothing arrangement of the familiar ‘Misty,’ a surprise add-on, closed the show.

OCCS Board Member, Mary Warden exclaimed: “As I watched Michael Kim’s fingers flying over the keyboard with the most precise, yet delicate and sensitive touch imaginable, I thought of the phrase tickling the ivories. Place that phrase in the highest possible category of classical piano and you will come close to Dr. Kim’s playing on November 26th.