Bass singer Jihoon Kim has been appointed as a professor for the 2026–2027 academic year at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, marking the first time a South Korean has secured a professorship at the institution, according to school announcements.
Appointment and Academic Background
The Guildhall School of Music & Drama announced on the 24th local time that it appointed South Korean bass vocalist Jihoon Kim as a new professor for the 2026–2027 music undergraduate faculty. Established in 1880, the school was ranked first in the music category of the 2024 UK university rankings by the British daily newspaper The Guardian. While other South Korean musicians such as clarinetist Han Kim and composer Donghoon Shin graduated from the institution, Kim’s appointment marks the first time a South Korean has become a professor there.
He is primarily active as a vocalist in the United Kingdom and Europe.
International Competitions and Career at the Royal Opera House
Kim gained international recognition after winning first place in several European vocal competitions, including the Ferruccio Tagliavini Competition in Austria in 2010 and the Luigi Illica Competition in Italy in 2010. In 2011, he was selected for the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House in London, where he performed as a resident artist from 2014 to 2015.
The Guildhall School of Music & Drama stated that Kim has performed on main stages more than 200 times across over 25 roles at the Royal Opera House. The institution also noted that he has produced many students who are currently working as professional singers throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.
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