Biography

Seoyeon Im is a New York-based Korean jazz violinist, composer, bandleader, and producer whose music lives at the intersection of classical strings, jazz improvisation, and contemporary cinematic expression.

Rooted in classical violin, Seoyeon has developed a distinctive musical voice that combines the rich, expressive sound of the violin with the freedom, spontaneity, and rhythmic language of jazz. Her work explores what the violin can become when it moves beyond the traditional boundaries of classical performance and into the world of improvisation, contemporary jazz, and storytelling.

Seoyeon studied violin at Sungshin Women’s University in Korea before continuing her studies at Berklee College of Music. She later earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY).

Based in New York, she leads the Seoyeon Im Quartet and presents a monthly Studio Ghibli Jazz Series, reimagining beloved melodies from Studio Ghibli films through original jazz arrangements and improvisation. She is also a member of the Glad Rag Orchestra and the founder of the Brooklyn String Quartet, an ensemble exploring the possibilities of string performance across classical and contemporary settings.

Beyond the stage, Seoyeon has built a substantial international audience through digital media. Her V.OLIN YouTube channel has surpassed 20 million cumulative views, while her social platforms reach more than 100,000 followers combined. Through YouTube and social media, she introduces audiences to the world of jazz violin, explores the differences between classical and jazz violin, compares instruments and playing styles, and shares performances and educational content that make jazz violin more accessible to a broader audience.

Her latest release, New World, marks an important step in her development not only as a violinist, but also as a composer and producer. The album brings together a dynamic jazz rhythm section and the rich textures of a string quartet, creating a cinematic sound world where lyrical melodies, lush string arrangements, and jazz improvisation coexist.

Through her music, Seoyeon continues to build a bridge between classical tradition and contemporary jazz—while introducing the unique voice of the jazz violin to audiences around the world.