Jongwoo Kim

The young tenor Jongwoo Kim comes from South Korea, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Yonsei University in 2019. He then continued his studies in Germany, earning his Master’s degree with top honors in 2022 under Prof. Siegfried Gohritz at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar. Additionally, he graduated with distinction from the Concert Exam program at the same university, studying with Prof. Silke Evers.

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During his studies, Jongwoo Kim successfully participated in both national and international competitions. In 2012, he won three awards in Seoul, including 1st Prize at the Shinhye Music Competition, the Special Award for Outstanding Performance at the National Student Music Competition, and 2nd Prize at the International Music Arts Association Music Competition. In 2018, he was awarded 1st Prize at the 37th Music Association of Korea Competition.

In 2019, he took part in Neue Stimmen in Gütersloh as well as the Practical Opera Course at the Hanover State Opera.

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Alongside his stage engagements, Jongwoo Kim has also appeared regularly in special festival and open-air productions. In 2024, he performed the tenor solo in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Bayreuth Orchestra Association. In 2022, he sang Don José in an open-air performance of Carmen at Neuhardenberg, followed by his portrayal of Alfredo in the world premiere of La Traviata in 2023 at the Donauschleusen Festival, where he returned in 2024 as Don José.

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He made his operatic debut as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen in 2022 at the Ettlingen Castle Festival — a powerful beginning that laid the foundation for many future engagements in this role.

In April 2023, he captivated audiences at the Hallesaal in Weimar as the charismatic Alfred in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.

A particular highlight came in July 2023, when he took the stage as Faust in Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust at the prestigious Erfurt Domstufen Festival, earning wide acclaim.

In October 2023, he made his debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Theater Hagen, showcasing both vocal depth and dramatic nuance.

Since June 2024, Jongwoo Kim has been appearing regularly at the Staatsoperette Dresden, where he continues to enchant audiences as Rodolfo in the revival productions of La Bohème with his warm lyricism.

In September 2024, he returned to the Theater Hagen as Don José — now with even greater stage maturity and presence.

In November 2024, he performed again as Rodolfo, this time as a guest at the Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, where his emotionally nuanced portrayal received special praise.

Since April 2025, he has been engaged as Don José in Carmen at the Mainfranken Theater Würzburg, where his stage presence and vocal intensity continue to receive high acclaim.

He is currently preparing for his upcoming return to Erfurt, where he will appear once again as Rodolfo in La Bohème at the Domstufen Festival in August 2025 — a venue where he had previously achieved great success as Faust.