Angela Kim

“a pianist who meets the highest standard of technique" – Darmstadt Echo

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48 St. Stephen is an adventurous ensemble whose mission is to develop a sense of closeness between the old and new, and a timelessness that holds them together.  The duo is deeply committed to works by living composers as well as masterpieces from the traditional canon, and they create concert experiences that connect repertoire from the likes of Bach, Mozart, and Prokofiev to today’s most experimental music.

Founded at the very beginning of 2020, 48 St. Stephen has rapidly increased their visibility in the fields of contemporary music and chamber music.  The group has won several awards and grants including St. Botolph Club Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award and Chamber Music America’s Commissioning Grant with Rome Prize winner Christopher Stark.  The duo was also selected to perform at Ramapo College’s “Healing Hands” project, a series dedicated to exploring how the arts contribute to healing during the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenging times.

The COVID-19 pandemic motivated the group to be more active and creative in ways to connect with audiences.  In 2020, 48 St. Stephen commissioned and documented two new pieces by Bongani Ndodana-Breen (University of Cape Town) and Yoon-Ji Lee (Berklee College of Music).  The resultant pieces, which reflected the composers’ responses to the height of the pandemic, were premiered by Metropolis Ensemble and later aired on the German public radio WDR 3’s program “Tonart”. 

The ensemble has performed recitals at venues in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Rhode Island, and looks forward to upcoming residencies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Washington University, and Vanderbilt University.  48 St. Stephen’s 2023-2024 commissions include music by Christopher Stark, Molly Herron, Dan VanHassel, and Patrick O’Malley.