Brightfeather is a dynamic and immersive violin-piano duo founded by violinist Benjamin Hoffman and pianist Irene Kim. Through deeply personal performances, Brightfeather is committed to bringing the light, hope, and strength of music to audiences across the globe. The duo has performed throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Asia, and Oceania, and presents repertoire spanning an extensive range of time periods and musical languages. Violinist Benjamin Hoffman has been heard across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania, performing with artists such as Ani Kavafian, Wolfram Christ, Jorja Fleezanis, John Adams, and Gary Hoffman. He has appeared at Yellow Barn, Chamber Music Northwest, Aspen, the Ojai Music Festival, and Music Academy of the West, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Wiener Konzertverein, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Seoul Arts Center, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing. Hoffman is an enthusiastic concertmaster and has led much of the symphonic repertoire both with and without conductor. He has also performed as a guest musician with the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony. He holds degrees from the Yale School of Music and Indiana University, studying with Ani Kavafian and Alexander Kerr. Pianist Irene Kim, a critically acclaimed prizewinner of international competitions, has performed across the globe in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australasia, appearing at venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Library of Congress. She is known for her versatility as an artist and for her powerful and authoritative performances, which range from the rare feat of performing Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto without a conductor to performing at Coachella alongside Danny Elfman. Continuously fascinated by the music and art of her contemporary surroundings, she works frequently with living composers and collaborates with visual artists and dancers. Her additional training as a conductor and piano technician informs her performance practice and instruction. She holds a doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory where she studied with Boris Slutsky, Benjamin Pasternack, and Leon Fleisher.
