Bio

A Chicago-based composer, pianist, organist, and harpsichordist, Marianne Kim has been noted for her vibrant performances and compositions in a wide diversity of musical styles, such as classical, jazz, Broadway musical, R&B, gospel, traditional & contemporary church music, and more.

As a soloist and collaborative artist, Marianne enjoys performing piano and organ recitals, chamber music, and jazz. She has worked for the Ravinia Festival since 2008 on various projects including “Danny Elfman’s Music”, “The Lord of the Rings”, “An Evening of Lerner and Loewe”, “Best of Broadway”, Opera “Trouble in Tahiti” by Leonard Bernstein, with Maestra, Marin Alsop, and performed “Téenek-Invenciones de Territorio” by Gabriela Ortiz with Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the Maestro, Carlos Miguel Prieto.

Marianne worked for the Lakeside Singers performing highly demanding dual roles of classical pianist and rhythm section keyboardist under the direction of Robert Bowker (2005~2022), and served as keyboardist at Willow Creek Community Church and the Moody Church (2001 ~ 2018). Since 2018, Marianne has held the esteemed position of principal organist at Christ Church of Oak Brook.

Marianne thoroughly enjoys imparting her knowledge and expertise, which she has done through various workshops and seminars conducted in collaboration with institutions such as Northern Illinois University, Trinity Int’l University, AGOs, and conferences. Marianne shared her passion for jazz piano by teaching classes at Northern Illinois University (2014 ~ 2015) and she is currently a faculty member at North Park University, teaching Gospel/Contemporary Piano, and at Northern Illinois University, teaching Organ and Harpsichord. Marianne is excited to teach keyboard leadership at Wheaton College starting Fall Semester 2024.

Marianne has published over 400 titles through Lorenz Publishing Company, Hope Publishing, Augsburg Fortress, Shawnee Press/Hal Leonard Corp, Yesol Press, Concordia Publishing, GIA Publications and received critical acclaim for her compositions. Her music has been described as “Intelligently crafted and quite artful with aural surprises” by Mark Hayes, “Sparkling arrangements with tasteful jazz harmonies and rhythms” by Larry Shackley, and “Incorporating invigorating harmonies, syncopated rhythms, and an assortment of jazz elements” by Douglas Wagner. Marianne is excited to join the team at Beckenhorst Press as an organ editor.

Born and raised in Korea, Marianne studied piano and composition at Busan High School of Arts and earned BM in composition at Pusan National University, Busan Korea. After working professionally for more than a decade in the United States, she returned to school and earned dual Masters of Music in jazz studies and organ performance with scholarships and prizes from Northern Illinois University.

Marianne studied music theory and composition with Dr. Soon-Hee Kang, Jazz Piano with Willie Pickens, Frank Caruso and Alan Swain, Jazz Organ (Hammond B3) with Reginald Thomas, Jazz Arranging with Tom Garling, Choral Conducting with Dr. Eric Johnson, Organ and Harpsichord with James Russell Brown.

She received various scholarships and awards including Jazz Scholarship (2013), Robert R. and Frances A. Green Endowed Scholarship (2013), Jeffry Lunsford Fellowship Award (2014), Richard Keefer Award (2014), Farney Wurlitzer Scholarship(2014), Outstanding Women’s Awards (2015), Artistic Talent Scholarship (2015~2016).

Marianne has worked and shared stage with Robert Bowker, Howard Levy, Mark S. Doss, Todd Thomas, Duain Wolfe, Ludwig Wicki, Michael James Scott, Linda McCrary, Josie Falbo, Bonnie Herman, Paul Langford, Larry Gray, John McLean, Donald Harrison, Rodrigo Villanueva, Ron Carter, Rodney Whitaker, Vincent Gardner, Rollo Dilworth, Montez Coleman and more.

Marianne is a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and AGO (American Guild of Organists).