This Fourth Friday Concert will unfortunately not be available on livestream. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Performer Bio
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Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert.
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Performer Bio
Ruben Alves – Pianist, Composer, and Educator
Ruben Alves is a distinguished Portuguese pianist and composer, known for his technical prowess and interpretative sensitivity. Born in 1976, he began his musical studies at the age of five and started learning piano at eight. By 21, he had completed his general studies in music in Lisbon and later refined his jazz training in Barcelona,Spain. His music demonstrates a fusion of jazz, classical, and Portuguese influences, creating an unique and expressive sound.
Throughout his career, Ruben has explored various musical styles, blending elements of jazz, classical, and experimental genres while maintaining his distinct artistic signature. His passion for innovation is reflected not only in his performances but also in his compositions, where he constantly seeks new sounds and creative expressions. He has released several jazz albums, including Clara Madrugada (2000), Súbito (2008), and in collaboration with Carlos Miguel and Miguel Amado, Kolme (2012), Kolme II (2016), and Kolme III (2022). Additionally, his work Lúmen (2007) revisits religious hymns, while O Mais Pequeno Espaço Apreciável de Tempo (2018) and Manto (2020) further showcase his compositional depth.
In addition to his solo career, Ruben Alves has collaborated with renowned Portuguese artists such as Mariza, Carminho, and Fausto. He currently performs with João Gil and Rui Veloso, bringing his rich musical expertise to diverse audiences. Beyond the concert stage, Ruben has contributed significantly to cinema and television, participating in Cinemateca Portuguesa film mute cycles with improvised interpretations and serving as a professor and pianist in television programs. His dedication to music education extends further through his recently published book of piano scores, 33 Compositions, in which he shares his artistic vision with aspiring musicians.
With his talent, versatility, and deep musical sensitivity, Ruben Alves continues to establish himself as one of Portugal’s most exciting and innovative pianists, admired by critics and audiences alike for his ability to create emotionally powerful experiences through music.
Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert.
Performer Bios
Jaeyoon Kim, a native of Seoul, Korea, earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at the University of South Carolina, where he received the Carroll Taussig Opera Fellowship. Dr. Kim holds two master’s degrees, one in Choral Conducting from USC and a second in Vocal Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He also earned an Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he apprenticed with the Lyric Opera Cleveland and was chosen to participate in the prestigious Cleveland Art Song Festival. Dr. Kim has been praised for his lyric tenor repertoire. His operatic credits include the principal tenor roles in The Tales of Hoffmann, La Bohème, Gianni Schicchi, Cosi fan tutte, Don Pasquale, The Merry Widow, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Magic Flute, The Consul, L’elisie d’amore, and many others in the United States, South Korea, Italy and Austria. As an active oratorio soloist, Dr. Kim has also performed in Messiah, Elijah, Creation, St. Paul, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem, Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Verdi’s Requiem, Britten’s War Requiem, and many others. He made his debut on the European stage by performing the role of Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte at the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy and later was invited to perform Beethoven’s Mass in C and Bizet’s Te Deum as a tenor soloist in the 2004 International Conducting Workshop in Varna, Bulgaria. He also appeared at the South Carolina Education TV for the production of Mozart’s Requiem, which he performed again with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2011, he was invited to perform the tenor solo of Verdi’s Requiem with Dohnanyi Orchestra at the northern cities in Italy, hosted by Varna International. As an equally comfortable singer of art songs, he has been presenting art song recitals with his wife and concert pianist, Dr. Seung Ah Kim. In 2016, they released a CD, “Romantic Art Songs” featuring art songs by Donizetti, Bellini, Turina, Liszt, Duparc, Rachmaninoff and Tosti. He is a full Professor at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he coordinates vocal studies and directs the UNCP Pembroke Singers. Dr. Kim is also the Music Director at Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC.Jaeyoon Kim, tenor
Dr. Seung Ah Kim, a native of Busan, Korea, has received her doctorate in piano performance at the University of South Carolina. She holds two master’s degrees in piano performance, one from Yonsei University in Korea and the other from The Cleveland Institute of Music. While studying at CIM, she was awarded the Arthur Loesser Memorial Award in Piano, recognizing her outstanding achievement. She also received a prize at the prestigious Darius Milhaud Performance competition. At USC, she was applauded for the performance of Flights of Passage by Claude Baker, which was the South Carolina premiere at the Southern Exposure Concert. She was also on the piano faculty at the USC Community Music Program and served as the official pianist for the Concerto Competition at the Southeastern Piano Festival and Summer Conservatory at USC. Currently, she is teaching piano and accompanying UNCP Choirs as an adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she also plays for faculty and guest artist recital series. In addition to her vigorous solo performances, she has actively performed as a collaborating artist. Recent accompanied recitals at UNCP include world-famous player, Øystein Baadsvik’s Tuba recital, New York City Opera Singers’ duo recital – Anna Vikre, soprano & Rod Nelman, bass, Dr. Terry Everson’s Trumpet recital, and Michele Gingras’s Clarinet recital. With her Husband and tenor, Jaeyoon Kim, she has been presenting art song recitals at various concerts in Ohio, Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Korea. Her teachers include Dr. Charles Fugo and Dr. Daniel Shapiro. She also studied chamber music with Carolyn Gadiel Warner and was chosen to play for the accompanying masterclass of Warren Jones and Dalton Baldwin. She was the Organist at Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC from 2014-2024. She joined the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC as a Music Director since 2024.
Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert.