Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 (I. Adagio – Moderato, III. Adagio)

Soomin Kim, cello

Luis Ortiz, piano

Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor is one of the most well known pieces in the cello repertoire. The piece had its premiere in October of 1919 with the London Symphony Orchestra. Yet it did not gain popularity until Jacqueline du Pré’s recording in the 1960s. It was Elgar’s last notable work, written during the aftermath of the First World War in 1919. The work consists of four movements: I. Adagio – Moderato, II. Lento – Allegro molto, III. Adagio, IV. Allegro – Moderato – Allegro, ma non-troppo – Poco più lento – Adagio.

Shostakovich Prelude for 2 Cellos

Thomas Lim, cello

Soomin Kim, cello

The prelude from Dmitri Shostakovich’s “The Gadfly,” Op.97 was arranged for two cellos. Dmitri Shostakovich wrote it for the 1955 film The Gadfly. The film was based on a novel of the same same, written by Ethel Lilian Voynich.

Soomin Kim, 19, started playing cello at the age of 8. She studies with Richard Aaron through the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange Program. She has performed as a soloist with the NV orchestra, Dwight Englewood orchestra, and Korean American Youth Orchestra, where she was highly recognized for her passion and performance. She was the winner of numerous competitions. Soomin also volunteered at various nonprofit organizations, where she taught music to underprivileged children and visited schools, libraries, and senior homes to spread her passion in music. Aside from playing cello, she studies computer Science and mathematics at Columbia University.

Thomas Lim was named a National YoungArts Foundation Winner in 2019 and is the recipient of numerous awards. Thomas has worked with esteemed artists such as Lynn Harrell, Hans Jorgen Jensen, Gilbert Kalish, David Finckel, Patricia McCarty, Soovin Kim, and members of the American, Tokyo, Orion, Juilliard, Schumann, Formosa, Escher, and Alexander String Quartets. Thomas previously studied with Jonathan Koh, pedagogue at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the San Francisco, California and Minja Hyun, Professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. Thomas is currently a freshman at Columbia University in the City of New York and studies with Darrett Adkins at the Juilliard School as part of the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange Program.