Meet Taegwoo Kim | Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taegwoo Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Taegwoo, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in South Korea and immigrated to South Africa with my family when I was 8 years old. My musical journey began in high school, where I was fortunate to attend a school with a strong music program, thanks to a scholarship for violin, bassoon, and vocal performance. I spent countless afternoons in the music building, practicing and performing in the orchestra, choir, acapella groups, and various chamber ensembles.
During breaks from my rigorous schedule, I often indulged in my love for video games and movies, particularly those in the fantasy genre. So, when I encountered my first composition assignment, I naturally drew inspiration from the phenomenal scores of The Lord of the Rings, Skyrim, and League of Legends. With my earliest compositions in hand, I applied to media scoring programs alongside classical voice performance majors in the US. Ultimately, I accepted a scholarship from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University for their media scoring program – a decision that proved to be one of the best I’ve ever made.
While high school gave me the experience of performing music, my time at the conservatory taught me how to harness that experience creatively. Writing for the incredible players at the conservatory and hearing them bring my music to life was transformative. I also lost myself in electronic music, expanding my horizons beyond my classical roots. In 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to intern under composer Joseph Trapanese, assisting on the third season of Netflix’s fantasy TV show, The Witcher. This experience solidified my passion, and after graduating in 2023, I moved to LA to pursue my dreams.
Today, my multicultural upbringing, combined with my diverse musical experiences, inspires me to create music that blends contemporary scoring with traditional instruments from various cultures. Fantasy continues to hold a special place in my heart, and I’m always writing something in that genre, whether for work or pleasure!
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My music is deeply rooted in my multicultural upbringing, which has profoundly shaped my identity as a composer. At home, I was immersed in Korean traditions, music, and values, instilling in me a strong sense of cultural identity. Outside of home, I experienced South Africa’s vibrant diversity of music, language, and traditions. This dual exposure enriched my perspective and deepened my appreciation for the world’s diverse musical traditions. This appreciation drives me to continually expand my musical vocabulary, blending new world elements with my orchestral writing. Whether it’s incorporating the beats of African drums, the timbre of Asian zithers, or the full symphonic might of European classical music, I strive to create compositions that invoke our connection to tradition.
Aligned with my goal of connecting music to tradition, my background in Anglican choral music and classical voice performance has taught me the profound impact of the human voice. I believe the voice naturally taps into universal emotions and cultural roots, reflecting the timeless tradition of storytelling. Thus, I strive to incorporate vocal elements into my compositions whenever possible.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Most important would be the Universal and Warner Brothers studio tours. They are fantastic ways to introduce and appreciate the incredible history of the LA film industry. A trip to Disneyland would also be mandatory. In terms of food, I think a bowl of Tsukemen at Tsujita is a must have along with a crepe next door at Millet Crepe!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shoutout my incredibly talent composer friends Derek Zeoli and Max Davidoff-Grey who welcomed me and showed me the ropes at Blue Bonsai Music. I’d also like to shoutout the incredible students, peers and professors at The Peabody Institute for helping me grow and become the composer I am today. Finally I’d like to thank my parents for allowing me to pursue my passion and my wonderful girlfriend for supporting me no matter what.
Website: https://www.taegwoo.com
Instagram: @taegwoo
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taegwoo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.kim.5492216/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@taegwoo
Other: https://play.reelcrafter.com/taegwoo/sola