Andrew Kim

About Andrew

Andrew Kim is a Korean-American jazz trombonist who grew up in Okemos, Michigan. After picking up the trombone at age eleven, he developed a more serious interest in jazz in high school when he studied with Altin Sencalar, Chris Glassman, and Michael Dease, with whom he completed his undergraduate degree in jazz studies at Michigan State University, earning a 4.0 GPA.

Through his studies at MSU, he performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival and toured Japan and Michigan alongside various notable guest artists. In 2023, he founded and led an AAPI-centric (Asian American and Pacific Islander) jazz ensemble at the school, where he organized workshops and performances for various middle and high school music programs in Michigan. Kim offered these educational events free of charge by winning $4.6k in funds from local grant competitions. He is continuing his education by pursuing his graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music under Marshall Gilkes.

I strive to carry on the jazz tradition of mentorship by passing on the inspiration and knowledge I have gained to the next generation of students. I ultimately encourage students to become leaders who can, in turn, motivate their own future students to become leaders.