We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Siyeon Kim a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Siyeon, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
My father’s dream after retirement was to build a botanical garden. He often said that people today live very busy lives and carry heavy emotional burdens. In many ways, he was one of those people himself. I think, deep down, he simply wanted to breathe fresh air and be surrounded by something calm and alive.
I grew up as a musician, trained in an environment of constant evaluation and competition. From a very young age, I was placed on public stages where my performance was judged. When I made mistakes or failed to deliver a perfect performance, the shame and self-blame felt overwhelming. Music was both my passion and my pain.
However, when audience members told me that my performances brought them comfort and healing, that pain felt meaningful. In those moments, I realized that music is completed only when it is shared. It is built on passion and love, but it becomes whole through generosity.
I founded Angels Lyric Opera not to elevate myself or any individual musician, but to create spaces where more people can easily access and enjoy music. I hope that attending our performances feels like taking a deep breath—like standing in a garden and enjoying the scent of fresh leaves. For me, generosity is not only about giving to others; it is also a gift that heals my own struggles.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Angels Lyric Opera is a nonprofit music organization founded in 2025. We created this company to make music, especially opera, more accessible to people facing difficult circumstances. When our community supports our work, our goal is always to give back to that same community.
We primarily present opera, but not in just one format. Depending on the audience, our productions range from 40-minute touring versions to one-hour adaptations for children, as well as full-scale operas running over two hours. For every project, we carefully consider who the performance is meant to serve and how it can make a meaningful impact.
Recently, we presented a fundraising concert of The Magic Flute. The proceeds were used to create an illustrated children’s storybook based on the opera, and more than 300 copies were donated to children in underserved communities.
Looking ahead, Angels Lyric Opera will present its first full-scale mainstage production, L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), on February 28 and March 1, 2026, at the Torrance Armstrong Theatre. We are honored to collaborate with the Palisades Symphony Orchestra, who will join us as our orchestral partner.
Live music performances are expensive and complex to produce. While we do as much as we can on our own, this work is not possible without support. Anyone interested in learning more or helping us continue this mission can visit angelslyricopera.com.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first is resilience. I grew up in constant evaluation and competition, where mistakes felt very public. Over time, I learned that failure does not define me. What matters is the ability to return and keep going. For those just starting out, I would encourage building the habit of trying again instead of aiming for perfection.
The second is the ability to listen. As a musician and an arts leader, I learned that working well with others matters more than standing out alone. Listening to different perspectives has strengthened my work. Early in a career, listening often matters more than speaking.
The third is understanding why I do this work. Music has always been important to me, but its meaning became clearer when I saw its impact on others. Angels Lyric Opera was created not for recognition, but to create moments where music truly reaches people. Knowing who your work serves helps you stay focused and grounded.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We are actively looking to partner with children’s hospitals and youth-serving organizations, as well as financial supporters who believe in the power of music. Our hope is to bring small, intimate opera concerts directly to children—especially those facing challenging circumstances—and offer moments of comfort, imagination, and joy.
We are also seeking individual donors, corporate sponsors, and local businesses who want to help make these outreach performances possible. With their support, we can continue sharing live music in spaces where it is truly needed and meaningful.
Anyone interested in partnering with us or supporting this work is warmly invited to connect through angelslyricopera.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.angelslyricopera.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelslyricopera/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AngelsLyricOpera
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
