About Kim Tran
Kim Tran is a Southern California based, conservatory trained composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist. Tran’s earlier works consisted mostly of string quartets and solo pieces on piano, organ, flute, and violin.
Heavily influenced by baroque organ repertoire, her early works often consists of much counterpoint. Due to being affected by chromesthesia, many of her works are accompanied by Tran’s own photos, paintings and works of visual media. Deeply inspired by Joe Hisaishi and studio Ghibli movies, Tran strives to create fantastical dream-like pieces.
Currently, Tran resides primarily in Orange County, California, where she maintains a private studio of over 50 music students of all ages and continues to produce music and visual media projects on her own. Tran encourages many of her students to take the ABRSM exams and to partake in local youth orchestras. She also encourages her students to volunteer at retirement homes, local communities, talent shows and churches to get as much performance opportunities as they can.
Tran primarily trains her students through a modified Suzuki method. Her lessons are all encompassing, consisting of multiple aspects apart from just learning repertoire, such as ear training, theory, accompanying, and so much more. Tran encourages her students to listen to various types of music to find their own interest, style, and voice. She has a strong focus on technique and theory, as they are the foundations of music. Her students range from toddlers to adults and from amateur to hobbyist to competitive. Many of her students compete in local competitions or take the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music Exams(ABRSM).
Tran takes great joy and fulfillment in sharing the wonderful world of music with all her students, young or old. As long as one is willing to learn, she believes that anyone can be taught and encouraged to become a musician.
While Tran primarily considers herself an organist and a composer, she is proficient in and continues to partake in performing on piano, violin, flute, and voice.
She initially began her studies in music on the piano at the age of 4. Under the instruction of Carol Graham, Tran’s interest love for music grew. Soon she began studying various other instruments such as the violin and flute through band and orchestra programs at school. She participated in various school and student ensembles throughout her earlier years. Tran was also an active pianist in regional competitions and festivals.
At the age of 14, she began her studies on the organ and transitioned into competing and performing more on the king of instruments rather than piano. She joined the American Guild of Organists(AGO) and began taking part in many of AGO’s competitions, festivals, conventions, and concerts. She attended many Pipe Organ Encounters(POE) throughout her high school years where studied under notable names such as Christa Rakich, Ethan Haman, and Dr. Ruben Valenzuela.
Through attending POE and participation in festivals and competitions, Tran was exposed to various workshops and courses in improvisation. Naturally, as she was involved in various chamber ensembles, this lead to experimentation in arranging and composing.
Tran then enrolled at the University of Redlands as a double major in Music Composition and Computer Science, where she studied Composition under the private instruction of Dr. Anthony Suter and Dr. Andre Meyers; Organ under the instruction of Dr. Alison Luedeke and Dr. Philip Hoch; Violin under the instruction of Dr. Sakura Tsai; voice under the instruction of Dr. Donald Brineger; and flute under the instruction of Sara Andon.
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