Doron Kima

“Doron Kima utilizes some extremely arresting musical gestures and makes good use of jazzy rhythms, with effective use of contrasts between sections. The composer is clearly in control of the material and instruments” (The American Prize Composition Competition). Kima’s catalogue includes works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo, voice, electro-acoustic, and film scores.

Kima’s personal background and professional experiences have taken place in Israel, Europe, and the U.S. He seeks to promote cultural understanding and cross-cultural communication and interaction. His concerto-type composition Seeds of Hope for nay (Arabic flute), oud (Arabic lute), and orchestra is based on the Arabic Maqam, while his delicate and intricate chamber work Song of Songs In the Garden of Delights for female voice, flute, harp, and two percussion players is based on the biblical Song of Songs.

His works are published by Capstone Records, Schott Music Corporation, Mercury Records (collaboration with Cross-Fade productions, Netherlands), Bald Wins Records, and Navona Records. His compositions are included in the SCI album series, SCI Journal of Music Scores, and NACUSA Southeast Chapter album. His composition Kislev has been selected for the International Award Wining Living Composers Concert of NACUSA Southeast Chapter and he is a recipient of the Promising Artists of the 21st Century Award of Centro Cultural Costa Rica.

Kima holds a Doctorate in Music Composition from Florida State University, a Master’s in Jazz Piano from Florida State University, and a Bachelor’s in jazz piano from Amsterdam School of the Arts in the Netherlands. Kima taught at Florida State University, the Open University of Israel, conducted master classes at the National Editus Academy and the University of Costa Rica San Jose, and is currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.

His jazz compositions range from lead sheets to big band charts and he appears on numerous jazz and commercial music recordings. As a jazz pianist he has appeared at major festivals in the U.S., Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, and Israel. These include the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, and the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Israel.