The 520-year-old Vienna Boys Choir, one of the three imperial Austrian musical groups along with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera, has maintained many traditions for a very long time. But starting over a year ago, it appointed its first ever female and first ever Asian conductor of one of its boys’ choirs, the now 36-year-old Kim Bomi.

A doctoral student at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Kim conducts the Vienna Boys Choir’s Mozart choir, one of the four equal sub-groups or touring choirs that make up the Vienna Boys Choir. The other three are named after Haydn, Bruckner and Schubert. Since her appointment as conductor in September 2012, Kim is now taking the choir on tour to Korea for the first time in January 2014 and has high expectations for the trip.


“I am so glad, but also feel a lot of pressure,” she said in an e-mail interview with Korea.net. “The boys are also looking forward to this as they are going to visit my home country. Although it has been a long difficult journey, if they can show their passion and love for music to the audience, I would be more than happy.”

The Vienna Boys Choir will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on January 18 and 19 as well as at the Guri Arts Hall in Guri, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province), on January 17, at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do, on January 21 and at the Daegu Opera House in Daegu on January 23.

Kim explained how the first half of the choir’s performance usually consists of medieval European church music and other classical music and the second half often concludes with light and pleasant Strauss waltzes.

“The repertoires include church music, which is my favorite, as well as folk songs from around the world, including Danny Boy, Arirang and Heidenroslein,” she said. “We will also perform songs from the movie ‘The Sound of Music,’ which has many fans in Korea.”

Reasons for her appointment

After graduating from Yonsei University with a major in concert choir, she went to Regensburg in Bavaria to study church music. Then, she enrolled in the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and earned her master’s degree in choir conducting, vocal music and Gregorian chants. Now she is in the third semester of her doctoral program where she is majoring in Gregorian chants and music.


When asked how she was appointed, she did not give a clear answer. The audition for conductors consists not only of an interview and a practical test, but also a meeting with the music director and training the boys at a summer camp for two to three weeks. She was being tested on both her qualifications and on her ability to maintain harmony with the children, as she both trains them and spends a lot of time with them. Later on, she found out that there were two other candidates before her at the summer camp.

“One of the boys at the summer camp whispered in my ear that I am the third candidate and the first woman. Then he said he likes me and that I teach better than the other candidates and that he hopes I become their conductor,” Kim said.

After the summer camp, she spent another two weeks in Vienna with new students who entered the choir in September 2012. Then the choir signed her up.

As for why she was chosen, Kim said, “There are many factors. I believe the music director talked to the students. Their opinions count a lot. Not to mention my ability in music, but there seems to have been good chemistry with the boys.”

“As conductor and teacher of the 25 singers in the Mozart choir, I have tried to become a role model for my students and that’s how I approach them,” she added.


Dream of becoming a musician since childhood

Since her childhood, Kim played organs and conducted choirs at Catholic churches and dreamed of becoming a musician. However, her parents opposed the idea of her becoming a professional musician. So she entered university majoring in hotel management. She continued to play in school bands and took part in various types of musical activities. Then, she realized that all she wanted to do was to get involved in church music and choirs. She dropped out of school and got accepted through another college admissions exam. In 1998, she entered Yonsei University, majoring in concert choir.

“Since childhood, I always liked to be involved in an ensemble with other people,” Kim said. “I played the piano for choirs and conducted church music. Then, I realized what a joy it was to make music with other people.”

Kim said she never felt it was hard when she studied in Germany or conducted the Vienna Boys Choir.

“Without the effort and progress I’ve made, I couldn’t have made it so far. Since it was something I liked to do, I enjoyed every moment.”

As to her aspirations, Kim said, “Conducting the Vienna Boys Choir is something that I never planned to do. My goal is just to live day by day and to do my best.”


By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr