Trombone
Dr. Gwang Kim serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies at The Master's University, where he conducts the University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and teaches courses in aural skills and music notation. He also holds the position of Second Trombone with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra.
As a performer, Dr. Kim has appeared with leading ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, Seocho Philharmonic, and Daesan Philharmonic. His versatile career has also included performances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with artists from 88 Rising, as well as studio recording work for television productions such as The Fosters (ABC) and Chef's Table (Netflix). Dr. Kim resides in Southern California with his wife, who is also Dr. Kim.
Dr. Kim's scholarly interests lie at the intersection of music, theology, and aesthetics. His doctoral dissertation, “Coram Deo: The Trombone and the Sublime in the Works of Beethoven,” examines how Beethoven's use of the trombone evokes divine majesty, transcendence, and the sublime — drawing on the instrument's historical associations with the sacred. His ongoing research explores the trombone as a musical embodiment of the presence of God (coram Deo) and its contribution to experiences of awe in orchestral music.