Recital features student violinist

Demonstrating her dedication to music, senior and violinist Ju-young Kim performed last night at Recital Hall.\n"I started playing the violin at the age of 5 when my mother took me to a violin shop," Kim said. "At first I was uncomfortable with it, but then I started getting used to it and fell in love with the violin."\nIk-Hwan Bae, professor of violin from South Korea, said the Korean war motivated people to seek out a more pleasant lifestyle, which included music.\n"This is why they wanted a different lifestyle for both themselves and their children," he said. "People felt the urge to live life vicariously without any anxiety, and music is a perfect vehicle for this kind of lifestyle." There are about 200 Korean students in the IU School of Music. Kim is an example of this phenomenon. She grew up in Seoul, South Korea, where she was exposed to Western classical music. \n"At the age of 5 she could memorize music that she had just heard on the radio and play it on the piano," said Kyung-Sook Kim, Kim's mother. "She used to play the piano with her sister, but I thought that the violin was a more feminine instrument. That's why I introduced her to the violin."\nShe encouraged Kim and trained her to appreciate Western classical music. \n"My mother used to turn on the radio every morning so that we could listen to classical music as soon as we woke up," Kim said. "She also took us to numerous concerts and recitals."\nWatching the best musicians on stage also inspired Kim. \n"When I saw them play I was moved by their sound," she said. "It was something I wanted to do. I wanted to captivate the audience like they did."\nShe insists her teacher, Miriam Fried, has a lot to do with her success. "I think she is the greatest. She is a wonderful teacher," Kim said. \nWhile Kim said she admires violin legends such as Itzhak Perlman, she did not have to look far for motivation and inspiration. \n"My father is my role model. I've learned a lot from him. He has taught me to be diligent and work hard," Kim said. \nShe practices for about five hours a day and centers her life around a strong work ethic. \nSince her childhood, she has performed all over the world, in such countries as Korea, Germany and the United States. She has earned accolades in competitions, the most recent of which was her second place finish at the Hudson Valley String Competition. \nShe said her goal is to perform and instill the joy of music in others. \n"I enjoy making music and help(ing) people understand the music of different composers," she said. "I feel like I communicate with the audience when I am on stage"