Bio/Resumé

Photo credit: Reaction Studios

Biography Vocalist Kim Sueoka is passionate about creating musical insights into the human experience. Lauded as "radiant" (Cleveland Classical), she is an active performer of Hawaiian historical music, early music, chamber music, and new compositions. She has appeared as a soloist with the Neuss Chamber Orchestra, Glorious Revolution Baroque, and the National Lutheran Choir. She has been featured on The Schubert Club's Courtroom and Summer Songfest series, Minnesota Guitar Society's Local Artist Series, The American Composers Forum's SoundCheck series,The Owatonna Arts Center Chamber Music Series, and The Royal Hawaiian Band's 'Iolani Palace Outdoor Concert Series. She frequently appears in concert with The Rose Ensemble, Lau, Silver Swan Chamber Ensemble, and with pianists/composers Paul Cantrell and Todd Harper. Her "crystalline voice" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) can be heard on a growing number of recordings. Kim received a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative grant in 2011 to research, perform, and record a collection of Hawaiian songs on the theme of fresh water, or wai. She received a McKnight Performing Artist Fellowship finalist award in 2007, and a Minnesota State Arts Board Cultural Community Partnership grant in 2005. Originally from Koloa, Kaua‘i, Kim presently resides in the Twin Cities, where she has developed a great respect for snow shovels and mittens. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at the University of Evansville under the instruction of Joseph Hopkins, and completed a Masters degree at the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Lawrence Weller. She studied Hawaiian chant and hula with the late Kumu Pohaku Nishimitsu.

Resumé Education and Awards Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant for Research, Performance, and Recording of Hawaiian Fresh Water Songs, 2011 Finalist Award, McKnight Foundation Fellowships for Perfoming Musicians Competition, 2007 Minnesota State Arts Board Cultural Community Partnership Grant for Research, Performance, and Educational Outreach in Hawaiian Music, 2005 Master of Music in Vocal Performance, University of Minnesota, 2006 Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Summa cum laude, University of Evansville, Indiana, 2000 Ambassadors of Aloha Arts Award, 1998 and 2001 Presser Scholar Award, 1999 Professional Ensembles The Rose Ensemble; Artistic Director Jordan Sramek, 2003-present Silver Swan Chamber Ensemble; Artistic Director John Bitterman, 2010-present Soprano Section Leader, Cathedral of St. Paul, Music Director Robert Ridgell, 2011 Soloist and soprano section leader, St. Paul's Episcopal Church on-the-Hill, 2005-2011 (Acting Choir Director 2009-2010) Full Moon Rabbit, Artistic Director Todd Harper, 2007-2009 Ensemble of the North; Artistic Director Patrick McDonough, 2004-2006 Space Station Alpha Sextet; Aristic Director Wade Oden, 2005-2006 Abendmusik with Lyra Baroque Orchestra; Co-Artistic Director David Douglass, 2004 Messiah with Lyra Baroque Orchestra; Co-Artistic Director Jacques Ogg, 2002 Minnesota Chorale; Artistic Director Kathy Saltzman-Romey, 2001-2005 Solo Performances   Na Mele Wai: Hawaiian Fresh Water Songs with Lau, The Riverview Cafe, Minneapolis, 2011 Na Mele Wai, Schubert Club United Hospital Chapel Series, St. Paul, 2011 Na Mele Wai, The Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul, 2011 Na Mele Wai, St. Paul's Episcopal Church on-the-Hill, St. Paul, 2011 Na Mele Wai, Minneapolis Music in the Parks Series, Lake Harriet Bandshell, 2011 Na Mele Wai, Butter Bakery Cafe and The Nicollet Cafe, Minneapolis, 2011 Guest Soloist, Edina Community Lutheran Church, MN, 2011 The River Inside of Trees live performance, Harmony Corner Cafe, Eau Claire, WI, 2011 Works by Abbie Betinis, Schubert Club Courtroom Concert Series, St. Paul, 2011 Faculty Recital, Inver Hills Community College, MN, 2011 Guest Soloist, Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Burnsville, MN, 2011 Silver Swan: Le Chant des Oiseaux Concert, St. Paul, 2011 Guest Artist, Keys Please: Three Generations of Piano Stories, Studio Z, St. Paul, 2011 Silver Swan: Cubridme de flores Concert, Stillwater, MN, 2010 Works by Abbie Betinis, Schubert Club Courtroom Concert Series, 2010 Jazz Lieder and other works by Todd Harper, St. Paul Home Concert, 2010 Soprano Soloist, Bach Cantata BWV 84, Neuss Chamber Orchestra, Sundin Music Hall, St. Paul, 2010 Hawaiian Art Songs by Charles E. King, St. Paul House Concert, 2010 WomanVoice Concert, St. Paul, 2010 Art Song Recital with Solon Pierce (piano), Owatonna Arts Center, 2010 Silver Swan: Serenata Concert, St. Paul, 2010 Soprano Soloist, H. Schutz Musikaliche Exequien, SWV 279 and 280 with the National Lutheran Choir, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, 2010 Lute Songs of John Dowland with Phillip Rukavina (lute), Schubert Club Courtroom Concert Series, 2010 Cantatas and Songs of A. Scarlatti and Rossini, Minnetonka Home Concert, 2009 Soprano Soloist, J.S. Bach: Coffee Cantata, BWV 211, Minneapolis Home Concert, 2009 Songs of Dowland and Monteverdi, Coffee Concert Series, St. Paul Conservatory of Music, 2009 Music and Movies Outdoor Concert Series with Classical Guitarist Wade Oden, Riverview Economic Development Association, St. Paul, 2008 Guest musician, First Presbyterian Church, South St. Paul, 2008 Songs of Earth and Heaven, recital with Baroque/Classical Guitarist Todd Tipton, Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall, Minneapolis, 2008 Minnesota Guitar Society Classical Guitarathon with Baroque Guitarist Todd Tipton, Sundin Music Hall, St. Paul, 2008 Music at St. Luke's Series with Phil Rukavina (lute), Julie Elhard (viols), and Jane Peck (dance), Minneapolis, 2008 First Tuesday Performance Series with Classical Guitarist Wade Oden, Princeton, MN, 2008 Schubert Club United Hospital Chapel Series with Baroque Guitarist Todd Tipton, St. Paul, 2008 Music of South America, Recital with Guitarist Wade Oden, University of Minnesota, 2008 Premiere of If I don't (fish for trout) by Todd Harper, American Composers Forum Salon, St. Paul, 2008 Guest Soloist, Sacred Hawaiian Music, Edina Community Lutheran Church, 2008 Guest Soloist, The Royal Hawaiian Band, 'Iolani Palace, Honolulu, 2008 Soprano Soloist, Songs of Love and Madness in the 17th Century, Conservatory Coffee Concert Series, St. Paul, 2007 Featured Artist, Baby Blue Arts, 2007 Art of Sweat Rhythm Fest #2, Minneapolis, 2007 Hot Dish Music Festival, Minneapolis, 2007 Soprano Soloist, World Premiere of Acapelorus (A Walrus Tale) by Libby Larsen for Buglisi Dance Theatre, Joyce Theatre, NY, 2007 Soprano Soloist, Good Friday Concert Spirituel, Church of St. Patrick, Edina, MN, 2007 Soprano Soloist, Nielsen Symphony No. 3, Allegro Sinfonia, Wayzata, MN, 2007 Songs of Love, Laughter, and Longing, Recital with Guitarist Wade Oden, University of Minnesota, 2006 Art Song Recital with Pianist Solon Pierce, Owatonna Arts Center Music Series, Minnesota, 2006 City of Blaine Performance in the Park Summer Concert Series, Minnesota, 2006 Performance of Hens, Their Diseases and Cure by Christopher Gable, Libby’s Green Acres: A Home Concert in Honor of Mr. Paul Sperry, Minneapolis, 2006 Guest Artist Recital and Discussion, St. Paul Conservatory of Music Children’s Summer Workshop, St. Paul, 2006 Songs from Voices by Carol Barnett, Music at Normandale Composer Concert, Normandale Community College, 2006 Performance of Hens, Their Diseases and Cure by Christopher Gable, American Composers Forum SoundCheck Concert Series, Southern Theater, 2006 Songs for the Spring Season, Art Song Recital with Pianist Philip Everingham, Valley Community Presbyterian Church, 2006 Minnesota Guitar Society Local Artist Concert Series with Guitarist Wade Oden, University of St. Thomas, 2006 Premiere of Home Thoughts, from Abroad by Denise Broadhurst, Minneapolis Home Concert, 2006 Schubert Club Court Room Concert Series, St. Paul, 2005 Mastin Home Concert Series, 2005 Premiere of Questions, First Autumn Night, and Route of Escape by Todd Harper, Patrick’s Cabaret, 2005 Sundays at Sundin Recital Series, St. Paul, 2005 Premiere of Perihelion by Wade Oden, American Composers Forum Salon, 2005 Metropolitan Artists Market, Minneapolis, 2005 Minnesota Guitar Society Classical Guitarathon Concert, Sundin Music Hall, 2005 Premiere of Fishing Poem by Todd Harper, American Composers Forum Salon, 2005 Minnesota Chorale Annual Benefit, 2004-2005 Guest Soloist, Sacred Hawaiian Music, Edina Community Lutheran Church, 2002-2005 Soloist; First Church of Christ, Scientist, of White Bear Lake, 2000-2005 Faculty Recital with Classical Guitarist Wade Oden, Normandale Community College, 2004 Chamber Music Recitals; Acadia Café, Minneapolis, 2004 Recital with Collaborative Pianist Jieun Kim, University of Minnesota, 2004 Premiere of Northwoods Police Report by Todd Harper, American Composers Forum Salon, 2004 Sacred Hawaiian Music; St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Edina, 2004 Bach Cantata BWV 120 and Mass in B Minor; University of Minnesota Bach Festival, 2004 Master’s Degree Recital; University of Minnesota, 2004 Spanish Songs by Rodrigo and Sor; Patrick’s Cabaret, Minneapolis, 2004 On the River; Live recording with Wayne Lu, French Horn, Minneapolis, 2002 Fauré Requiem; Grace United Methodist Church and Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 2002 Bach Cantata BWV 22; House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 2002 Soloist; Waialeale Boat Tours, Kauai, Hawaii, 2001 Handel Chandos Anthem No. 7; University of Minnesota, 2001 Schubert Club Courtroom Concert; St. Paul, 2001 I Cantanti di Opera Academy Chamber Recital; Opera-Estate, Italy, 2000 Bach Anniversity Concert; Evansville, Indiana, 2000 Bach Hochzeitskantate BWV 202; University of Evansville, 2000 Bach Cantatas BWV 61, 147, 149, 168, and 196; University of Evansville, 1998-2000 Fauré Requiem; St. Mary Masterworks Concert, Evansville, Indiana, 2000 Chamber Recital; Harlaxton Manor, United Kingdom, 1999 Ambassadors of Aloha Arts Award Concerts; Kauai, Hawaii, 1998 and 2001 Stage/Opera Second Woman and First Witch, Dido and Aeneas, Glorious Revolution Baroque, St. Paul, 2010 Virgin Mary; The Dublin Mystery Play, The Southern Theater, Minneapolis, 2005 First Spirit; Die Zauberflöte, Opera-Estate, Rome, Italy, 2000 Madame Silberklang; Impresario, University of Evansville Opera Theatre, 1999 First Knitter; A Game of Chance, University of Evansville Opera Theatre, 2000

Recordings The River Inside of Trees: Music of Todd Harper, with Paul Cantrell and Todd Harper, 2011 (also available on itunes, amazon, and emusic.com) Noopiming, Mike Olson, 2010 Clear or Cloudy: Lute Songs of John Dowland with Lutenist Philip Rukavina, 2009 (also available on itunes, amazon, and emusic.com) Il Poverello, The Rose Ensemble, 2009 And Glory Shone Around, The Rose Ensemble, 2008 Na Mele Hawai'i, The Rose Enseble, 2007 Rosa das Rosas, The Rose Ensemble, 2006 Questions, Northwoods Police Report, and First Autumn Night by Todd Harper, with Pianist Paul Cantrell, In The Hands Online Music Publication, 2006 fLORA, Space Station Alpha Sextet, 2005 Celebremos el Niño, The Rose Ensemble, 2005 In the Days to Come, Gia Publications, 2006 Voce y Cuerdas Duo Demo CD, 2005 That You May Have Life, Gia Publications, 2005 Accompany Publishing Group Educational Media, 2003 Educational Outreach Educational Workshop Consultant and Facilitator, The Rose Ensemble, 2006-present Cathedral Choir School Assistant, Cathedral of St. Paul, 2011 Voice Instructor, Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, 2008-2011 Guest Presenter in Hawaiian Mo'olelo, Culture, and Song, A Musical World Cruise Lecture/Demo Series, University of St. Thomas, 2008 Voice Instructor, St. Paul Conservatory of Music, 2007-2009 Choral Director, St. Paul Conservatory of Music, 2007-2008 Small Vocal Ensemble Director, St. Paul Conservatory of Music Children's Summer Workshop, 2006 Small Vocal Ensemble Director, St. Paul Conservatory of Music High School Summer Workshop, 2005 Voice and Piano Instructor, Music for Everyone, 2005-2006 Hawaiian Music workshop with students of Wilshire Park School, Minneapolis, 2004 Hawaiian Music workshop with students of Richard Green Central Park School, Minneapolis 2004 Vocal Workshops with students of Ele’ele Elementary School, 2000-2005 Vocal Workshops with students of Kauai High School, 1999-2005