As Kelly Kim entered Jordan High School, she made her way to the noisy, brightly lit cafeteria. There were 215 students practicing before the audition started. Each one had the same goal, earning a spot in the Region Orchestra 23. Kim started to practice along with the other students.

After thirty minutes, sixteen judges signaled the students to enter the audition rooms. Kim’s heart raced as she entered the small, cramped room with the other twenty-two students. She took a deep breath, giving her hands a light shake, then waited for her turn. Out of 175 students, very few would make the cut.

For Kim, her violin isn’t just an instrument, it’s a means to express both her excitement as well as her sadness. Each day after school, she practices for at least 30 minutes. What started as a simple daily habit helped shape her path into a musician.

Kim was first drawn to the violin by its ability to communicate her emotions. Watching Brett Yang and Eddy Chen from the YouTube channel, TwoSet Violin, showed how expressive the violin could inspired her to pick up the violin and share her passion for music and performance with others.

“I’ve always loved the sound of violin because it can be really expressive and emotional,” Kim said.

Kim earned the position of concertmaster in the Houston Youth Symphony, the lead violinist and highest-ranking musician in the orchestra, as a seventh grader. The roles demanded not only technical skills but also leadership and confidence. These are qualities that Kim developed through countless hours of practice and collaboration.

As Kim continued learning the violin, she focused on hard bowings, fingerings, and daily scales. This year, she plays in the Advanced Orchestra, directed by Michael Fahey.

Fahey had previously been a judge for the UIL at Fort Bend ISD and Region 23. He also directed high school groups at the Symphony Hall in Chicago as well as the Carnegie and Lincoln Center in New York.

Kim’s talent caught Fahey’s attention, who recognized her potential and encouraged her to audition for Region 23.

The Region 23 concert was on Dec. 12 and 13 at Jordan High School with a difficult set of music according to Fahey. It is an all-star orchestra with the top string playing students from Katy, Alief, and HISD.

Fahey was impressed with her mock audition during class.

“Every time that Kelly played, she sounded really wonderful,” Fahey said. “And more importantly, every time she played, she sounded better.”

Fahey was confident in Kim’s chances of making Region 23 because her playing uniquely combined emotional expression with refined musicality.

“She plays beautifully in tune with great intonation, great tone,” Fahey said. “She doesn’t just play the notes, but she plays the artistry, the musicality.”

Kim’s musical career wouldn’t have been possible without her parents’ time, sacrifices, and dedication. Yoonshin Kim, Kelly Kim’s father, said consistent guidance and sacrifice played a key role in shaping her success.

“It’s the time spent giving up her other options and dedicating countless hours to practice, and all that accumulated time eventually creates those magical moments on stage,” Kim Yooshin said.

Through consistent pre-performance routines, such as steady breathing and mental preparation, Yooshin Kim says how Kelly Kim adds depth and focus to her performances.

“Before Kelly starts playing, she takes a deep breath to calm herself down,” Kim Yoonhin said. “It helps her feel confident and lets her focus on making that very first note clean and solid, something she really values.”

The time and dedication Kelly Kim puts into her violin journey earned her the ninth rank out of 215 students from the Region 23 audition. She not only credits her constant practices, but also the guidance and encouragement from Fahey and Kim Yoonhin.

“The more you practice, the more your techniques and coordinations improve, allowing hard parts to start to feel easier,” Kelly Kim said.