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Munich, October 11, 2026 – Bobin Kim, the Deputy Choral Director at the Bavarian State Opera, has been awarded the German Choral Conducting Award. Kim, who also received the audience prize, stood out among three finalists in Berlin, demonstrating remarkable skill and artistry.
Jury Praises Kim’s Exceptional Conducting
The jury commended Bobin Kim for her “great inner calm” and “astonishing strength and energy.” They highlighted her outstanding conducting technique, which allowed her to elicit a wide array of sound colors from the choir. Furthermore, the jury noted her ability to “build a strong connection with the choir” and “assert her ideas.” Kim’s fellow finalists were Benedikt Kantert and Nikolaas Schmeer.
The competition required the three candidates to prepare and present choral repertoire from the 17th to the 20th centuries in a final concert. An internationally composed jury then decided on the recipient of the German Choral Conducting Award, which comes with a prize of 5,000 Euros.
Bobin Kim’s Career at the Bavarian State Opera
Since 2026, Bobin Kim has held the position of Deputy Choral Director at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Prior to this, she served as Assistant Choral Director and Choir Repetitor at the Semperoper Dresden. Her talent has been recognized through various programs; she has been a scholarship holder of the Forum Dirigieren funding program since 2022 and was accepted into the concert promotion program of the German Music Council in 2024.
Educational Background and Further Engagements
Kim pursued her choral conducting studies at the Korea National University of Arts in Seoul. She completed her Master’s degree and Konzertexamen in Germany, studying in Frankfurt and Saar. In 2025, she participated in the Choral Conducting Forum at the BR Choir.
Future Engagements with Renowned Choirs
As a recipient of the German Choral Conducting Award, presented by Forum Dirigieren, a project of the German Music Council, and the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Kim will receive not only the prize money but also engagements with the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, the SWR Vokalensemble, the WDR Rundfunkchor, and the MDR-Rundfunkchor. Her success in securing the audience award further underscores her widespread appeal and talent.
