Grace Kim was born in Seoul, Korea and began playing the violin at the age of 3 through the Suzuki Violin Academy. She won first place at the Nanpa competition in Korea at the age of 5, and first place at the Music Education News competition a few years later. She switched to the viola when she was 10 years old. Since moving to the States, she has been principal of the Lynchburg Youth Symphony and is the current principal of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra’s viola section. She was one of the winners of the RYSO concerto competition this year. She is currently a student of Esther Nahm, assistant principal violist of the Richmond Symphony. Grace is in ninth grade at Deep Run High School. Away from the viola, she enjoys playing the flute and piano.