Solomon Kim, a senior majoring in music composition, was recently selected for participation in the International Composition Institute of Thailand (ICIT) – a composition program coinciding with the IntAct Festival, which is a symposium for digital media and experimental music in Southeast Asia. As one of the 14 composers chosen from over 130 undergraduate, graduate, and professional applicants, Solomon will premiere a new piece with Tacet(i) Ensemble, a leading contemporary music chamber ensemble, and participate in seminars with other composition students and faculty members.

This exciting opportunity intersects with his honors thesis, “Let’s Flood the Market: Reflections on the Commodification of Art,” which explores non-notated and improvisatory frameworks as a method of building artistic community and collective solidarity. At ICIT, Solomon will premiere Let’s Flood the Market!, the titular piece from his thesis, which synthesizes and articulates his research into music aligned with the “agitprop” label. More than a descriptive work, this piece sounds a call to action to “flood the market” with art and artistic community. Through practice-based research, collaboratively developing this and other new works, Solomon’s thesis recital will both investigate the possibilities of community formation-based musical practices and take action to strengthen artistic communities at Emory and beyond. Participating in ICIT takes this practice international – creating a contact point between Thailand’s contemporary music community and Solomon’s work in Atlanta.

Solomon, a fourth-year student and Robert W. Woodruff Dean’s Achievement Scholar, would like to thank his honors advisor Dr. Katherine Young for her mentorship; and the Emory Scholars Program and Emory Friends of Music for making participation in this opportunity possible. More information about his work can be found at solomonkim.me.