ANDERSON — It all began at a piano competition, when Anderson University’s Randall Frieling and Indiana Wesleyan’s Phoenix Park-Kim were serving as judges.
During their two days at the Hartman Stickley Memorial Piano Competition in South Bend, the two pianists tossed around the idea of performing together. That’s exactly what will happen Thursday night in the Fine Arts Building on the AU campus.
“It should be really fun,” said Frieling by phone from Ohio.
“She’s an aggressive performer, and I like that. ... We have very pianissimo places and very loud, fortissimo places. We both match that way, I think.
“And we get along, so it’s nice to work with someone that you don’t have to fight over every phrase.”
Park-Kim agreed with Frieling, to a point.
“Actually, Randy suggested a program first,” she said. “And then I went through them and realized that they were all like his personality. A lot of the pieces were very rhythmic and happy, boisterous, you know, full of sound.
“With my personality, there was a little bit of conflict. I wanted to do a little more delicate and pretty pieces as well, not so percussive and loud.”
Park-Kim, laughing, said she proposed the Mozart and Saint-Saëns, as she felt they were “very different from the other pieces. They’re a bit more pleasant, more melodic, soothing and peaceful.”
Park-Kim, who has been with IWU for five years, was born in South Korea and began performing publicly at 7. Since then, the 36-year-old has performed in the United States, Italy, Switzerland, Russia and in her homeland.
Park-Kim, who met her husband while earning a master’s at Miami University of Ohio, went onto to a doctorate at the University of Missouri at Kansas City’s Conservatory.
The job at IWU is her first.
“The people are very friendly,” she said of her new Hoosier location. “And I’m amazed that every small city has its own orchestra, like Anderson and Marion.
“I used to live in Kansas City, which is a lot more urban. And there are pros and cons, but here, my neighbor, for example, mows my lawn when I’m out of town. I never had that kind of closeness with my neighbors in Kansas City. I love it here.”
Contact Rodney Richey, 640-4861, rodney.richey@heraldbulletin.com.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Pianist Phoenix rising at Anderson University
Korean-born pianist to accompany Friedling
- Local News
-
-
NCLB loses grip on Indiana
Indiana is one of the first 10 states in the nation to receive a waiver from President Barack Obama’s administration for certain requirements within No Child Left Behind. That spells change for local districts.
-
Mayor, department managers fire 36
Since being elected and taking office in January, Mayor Kevin Smith has terminated 30 employees, and his department heads have fired an additional six more.
-
City seeks $2.45 million for salaries, pensions
The city needs additional funds to pay for slight increases in firefighter salaries, as well as $2.35 million for the fire and police pension funds. Thursday night at a city council meeting, a funding suggestion was proposed for the latter, but no solution was determined for the first.
-
Police report human remains in Grant County
Human remains were uncovered by police Thursday morning in Grant County.
-
Police: Man stabbed by brother
Police responded to the report of a stabbing early Thursday morning.
-
Local Briefs: Feb. 10
A compilation of news items of local and statewide interest as published in the Friday edition of the Herald Bulletin.
-
What's Where: Feb. 10
Local meetings and activities are planned Friday.
-
Arrest log: Feb. 9
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Wednesday and Thursday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County Prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
- Dist. 5 candidate Brooks touts job training
-
Pleasant day for central Indiana
Expect a pleasant day for central Indiana. Mostly sunny skies with hghs around 40 degrees.
- More Local News Headlines
-
