Danbi Um, violin, and JIJI, guitar

This special program features works by Arcangelo Corelli, Amy Beach, Erroll Garner, Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albeníz, Niccolò Paganini, Manuel Ponce, Ástor Piazzolla.

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED as seating is limited; walk-ups welcome, space permitting
E-mail: FOMAdmin@friendsmusic.org
Phone#: 518.918.8003
This is an indoor show. Masks & social distancing required.
Suggested Donation of $12 Adults / $6 Seniors.

Praised by The Strad as an “utterly dazzling” artist, with “a marvelous show of superb technique” and “mesmerizing grace” (New York Classical Review), violinist DANBI UM captivates audiences with her virtuosity, individual sound, and interpretive sensitivity. A Menuhin International Violin Competition Silver Medalist, winner of the prestigious 2018 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant,  and a recent top prizewinner of the Naumburg International Violin Competition, she showcases her artistry in concertos, solo recitals, and in collaboration with distinguished chamber musicians.

JIJI’s most recent chamber music endeavors include touring with Latin Grammy winners Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Carla Canales, Verona Quartet, Soprano Molly Netter, and Brasil Guitar Duo.

In 2018, JIJI joined the ASU Music school faculty as an Assistant Professor of Guitar. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and creating weird sounds on Ableton.

JIJI is currently sponsored by D’Addario Strings.

Recent and upcoming engagements include solo appearances with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (Kimmel Center), a national tour with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and performances at premier national series including Wolf Trap, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Society of Four Arts in Palm Beach, Parlance Chamber Series, Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, and Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Concerts. Notable recent festival engagements included performances at Caramoor and Music@Menlo’s “Carte Blanche” recital series with pianist Orion Weiss. In 2018, Ms. Um made her New York recital debut at Lincoln Center presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. 

After winning the 2014 Music Academy of the West Competition, Ms. Um made her concerto debut in the Walton Violin Concerto with the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Joshua Weilerstein. Past concerto engagements include appearances with the Israel Symphony, Auckland Philharmonic, Vermont Symphony, and the Dartmouth Symphony. She also recently appeared in recital and in chamber music performances in such venues as the Kennedy Center, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Harris Theatre in Chicago, Wigmore Hall in London, and at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

An avid chamber musician, Ms. Um is an artist member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS).  Festival appearances have included those at Marlboro, Ravinia, Yellow Barn, Moab, Seattle, Caramoor, and North Shore. Ms. Um also recently made her critically acclaimed debut at the Moritzburg Festival in Dresden, Germany. Her chamber music collaborators have included Anthony Marwood, Vadim Gluzman, Pamela Frank, Cho-Liang Lin, Paul Neubauer, Frans Helmerson, David Finckel, David Shifrin, Wu Han, and Gilbert Kalish.

Born in 1990 in Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Um began violin lessons at the age of three. In the year 2000, she moved to the United States to study at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree. She also holds an Artist Diploma from Indiana University. Her teachers have included Shmuel Ashkenasi, Joseph Silverstein, Jaime Laredo, and Hagai Shaham.

Ms. Um is a winner of Astral Artists’ National Auditions. She plays a 1683 “ex-Petschek” Nicolo Amati violin, on loan from a private collection.

Applauded by the Calgary Herald as “…talented, sensitive…brilliant,” JIJI is an adventurous artist known for her virtuosic performances that feature a diverse selection of music, ranging from traditional and contemporary classical to free improvisation, played on both acoustic and electric guitar. Through her impeccable musicianship, compelling stage presence, and constant premieres of new musical works, JIJI’s intriguing programming solidifies her reputation as a 21st century guitarist. Washington Post selected JIJI as “one of the 21 composers/performers who sound like tomorrow.”.

The Kansas City Star described JIJI as “A graceful and nuanced player,” adding that “…she presented an intimate, captivating performance” in reviewing her recent concerto debut appearance with the Kansas City Symphony.

As a major highlight of her 2019-20 season, JIJI performed Hillary Purrington’s concerto Harp of Nerves at Zankel Hall of Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra and conductor George Menahan.Other highlights from this season include JIJI’s Lincoln Center debut Great Performers series in April 2019 and the world premiere of four new pieces in her concert at 92nd Street “Y” in November 2019.

Recent highlights encompass a wide array of venues, including: Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, 92nd Street “Y”, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Moss Arts Center, Green Music Center, National Art Gallery, National Sawdust, Miller Theater, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Purdue Convocations, Mass MOCA, Le Poisson Rouge, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Princeton Sound Kitchen, Virginia Arts Festival, Festival Napa Valley, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Her performances have been featured on PBS (On Stage at Curtis series), NPR’s From the Top, WHYY-TV, FOX 4-TV, Munchies (the Vice Channel), The Not So Late Show (Channel 6, Kansas), and Hong Kong broadcast station RTHK’s The Works.

Following the success of her EP recording, Underglow, JIJI is currently working on recording her new project, UNBOUND, which features commissioned music written specifically for her. Additional details to be announced in the summer of 2021.

After becoming the first guitarist to win the Concert Artists Guild competition 1st prize in 30 years, JIJI was granted BMI commissioning fund; it was awarded for her outstanding performance in the Concert Artists Guild Competition, to aid composers with funding for their projects. Using this fund, JIJI commissioned Nina C. Young to write her a new guitar piece for premiere in an upcoming performance.