Guitarists Petar Jankovic and Ji Yeon Kim appointed to IU Jacobs School of Music faculty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce the appointments of Petar Jankovic and Ji Yeon (Jiji) Kim to its Guitar Department faculty.

A Jacobs alumnus, Jankovic’s appointment as associate professor of music in guitar began Aug 1. He was previously senior lecturer in guitar at the school.

Kim’s appointment as associate professor of music in guitar will begin Aug. 1, 2023. She will serve as a visiting artist and adjunct faculty member until then. She is currently assistant professor of guitar at Arizona State University’s School of Music, Dance and Theater.

“Petar Jankovic’s distinguished teaching career at the Jacobs School is rivaled only by his outstanding international performing career,” said Abra Bush, David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean. “Jiji Kim’s impeccable musicianship, frequent premieres of new musical works and inventive programming cement her reputation as a true twenty-first-century guitarist. We enthusiastically welcome them to their new appointments as they join colleague Daniel Duarte in forging a powerful team to commence this exciting and innovative era in guitar at Jacobs.”

“We are thrilled that Petar will be able to continue sharing his wealth of experience, vision and leadership in both performance and pedagogy with our students in this new appointment,” said Lissa May, interim chair of the Guitar Department. “And I am very excited that Jiji will be joining us. Her commitment to new works and her breadth as a guitarist who performs and teaches diverse styles of music make her the perfect person to work alongside Petar and Daniel Duarte to shape the future of the department.”

Jankovic began his guitar studies at age eight in Serbia, where he later earned a degree in classical guitar from the renowned Belgrade Music Academy. He went on to earn a master’s degree and an Artist Diploma under the guidance of Ernesto Bitetti from the Jacobs School of Music.

Jankovic developed a guitar program at Franklin College (Indiana) in 1997 and taught at the University of Indianapolis Department of Music from 1999 to 2006.

He has released five albums, the most recent two with string quartet and guitar ensemble.

Since his first professional performance in 1985, Jankovic has given recitals and master classes throughout the United States and Europe, touring each regularly, in addition to a 2015 tour in Taiwan.

He is known for his genuine, expressive interpretation of each composition, communicating honest emotions of the human experience. According to GuitarInternational.com, “Petar Jankovic is one of the finest soloists on the scene today, and he possesses a unique, artistic and highly expressive style.”

Additionally, Jankovic has developed a community guitar outreach program in Serbia, currently serving 19 major cities.

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Kim earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music.

She is an adventurous artist on both acoustic and electric guitar, playing a wide range of music, from traditional and contemporary classical to free improvisation.

Released in 2018, her recording “Underglow” features acoustic guitar music by Bach, Albeniz, Ginastera and Dyens, in addition to her own composition for electric guitar and electronics.

Recent highlights include a wide array of venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, Krannert Center and more. A passionate advocate of contemporary music, Kim has worked with renowned composers such as Terry Riley, Paul Lansky, João Luiz and Nina Young, among others.

Kim’s most recent chamber music endeavors include touring with mezzo-soprano Carla Canales, soprano Molly Netter, the Verona Quartet, Brasil Guitar Duo and Latin Grammy-winners Cuarteto Latinoamericano. She also recently performed with the New York Philharmonic and pianist Lara Downes.

She has presented master classes and workshops extensively, including at the Peabody Institute, Eastman School of Music, Yale University and Dublin’s National Concert Hall, among many others.

The Washington Post selected Kim as “one of the 21 composers/performers who sound like tomorrow.”