November 1, 2025
Yubeen Kim
Principal Flute
Caroline H. Hume Chair
Principal Flute
Caroline H. Hume Chair
Yubeen Kim joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Flute in January 2024. He was previously principal flute of the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra and a guest principal with the Berlin Philharmonic.
What was your first concert with the San Francisco Symphony?
It was during my audition week with Esa-Pekka Salonen in 2023. We played Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica, and the Piano Concerto No. 5 with Igor Levit. That was a great time.
How did you begin playing the flute?
My dad is a musician, he plays double bass in a Korean orchestra, so I was always close to music. I started learning piano at six, learned violin for a while, and finally discovered flute because my mom was studying it as a hobby. Flute was almost like a toy, I really enjoyed playing it starting at nine years old.
Story continues below...
What was your first concert with the San Francisco Symphony?
It was during my audition week with Esa-Pekka Salonen in 2023. We played Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica, and the Piano Concerto No. 5 with Igor Levit. That was a great time.
How did you begin playing the flute?
My dad is a musician, he plays double bass in a Korean orchestra, so I was always close to music. I started learning piano at six, learned violin for a while, and finally discovered flute because my mom was studying it as a hobby. Flute was almost like a toy, I really enjoyed playing it starting at nine years old.
Story continues below...
Where did you continue your studies?
In Korea, we have an art middle school, so I majored in music there starting at 13. I’m from Daejeon, so I moved to Seoul to study at that point. Later my teacher recommended that I study abroad, and she was really good friends with the professor at the Lyon Conservatory, so I went to France, first to Lyon and then to the Paris Conservatory.
What was your first orchestra job?
At 19, I got the job at the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra. I was still studying, so I went back and forth between Paris and Berlin for a while.
Do you notice different playing styles between Korea, France, Germany, and the United States?
There’s a very long tradition of flute playing in France, so we talk about French-school flute playing. Most of the players and teachers in Korea studied in France, and in Germany they love French flute playing as well. French playing emphasizes intimacy and elegance. In the States, we have slightly different taste, which can be more powerful, majestic, and confident.
What kind of flute do you play?
I play a Brannen-Cooper flute, which is made in the USA. I have a French headjoint by Salvatore Faulisi.
What do you love about playing in an orchestra?
As a flutist, we don’t have a big solo repertoire, like a pianist or violinist. So our chance to play more repertoire is in the orchestra. It’s a shame we don’t have any flute concertos by Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, or Tchaikovsky. But they did write really great flute parts in some of their symphonies.
Do you have any musical activities outside the Symphony?
I just started teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory, and I’m really having fun with those students. I also still frequently play as a soloist in Korea.
What do you like to do besides music?
I like to eat, there are so many great foods and restaurants in the Bay Area. I recommend the Korean restaurant Daeho in Japantown. I think it’s a really authentic and good one.
This month, Yubeen Kim solos in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (Nov. 20–22). Next spring, he plays Ibert’s Flute Concerto (May 8–10).
In Korea, we have an art middle school, so I majored in music there starting at 13. I’m from Daejeon, so I moved to Seoul to study at that point. Later my teacher recommended that I study abroad, and she was really good friends with the professor at the Lyon Conservatory, so I went to France, first to Lyon and then to the Paris Conservatory.
What was your first orchestra job?
At 19, I got the job at the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra. I was still studying, so I went back and forth between Paris and Berlin for a while.
Do you notice different playing styles between Korea, France, Germany, and the United States?
There’s a very long tradition of flute playing in France, so we talk about French-school flute playing. Most of the players and teachers in Korea studied in France, and in Germany they love French flute playing as well. French playing emphasizes intimacy and elegance. In the States, we have slightly different taste, which can be more powerful, majestic, and confident.
What kind of flute do you play?
I play a Brannen-Cooper flute, which is made in the USA. I have a French headjoint by Salvatore Faulisi.
What do you love about playing in an orchestra?
As a flutist, we don’t have a big solo repertoire, like a pianist or violinist. So our chance to play more repertoire is in the orchestra. It’s a shame we don’t have any flute concertos by Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, or Tchaikovsky. But they did write really great flute parts in some of their symphonies.
Do you have any musical activities outside the Symphony?
I just started teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory, and I’m really having fun with those students. I also still frequently play as a soloist in Korea.
What do you like to do besides music?
I like to eat, there are so many great foods and restaurants in the Bay Area. I recommend the Korean restaurant Daeho in Japantown. I think it’s a really authentic and good one.
This month, Yubeen Kim solos in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (Nov. 20–22). Next spring, he plays Ibert’s Flute Concerto (May 8–10).
