DAVE KIM is an internationally acclaimed electric violinist and DJ with over 47 years of musical experience. He began studying classical piano and violin at the age of 4 and has been passionately dedicated to his craft ever since. As a high school student in Nevada, he served as the concertmaster of his orchestra and competed in state solo competitions. Dave later moved from Reno/Tahoe to the San Francisco Bay Area during the dot-com boom, where his music career flourished.
Dave began collaborating with singer-songwriter Chris Clouse at a sushi joint in the Marina District called MasSake. Together with Whitesnake bassist Uriah Duffy, drummer Brandon Davis, and guitarist Jesse Brewster, they performed at iconic venues like the Red Devil Lounge, Slim’s, Bimbo’s, Sweetwater, Great American Music Hall, The Viper Room in Los Angeles, and The Bitter End in New York. Their breakthrough came when they opened for Hootie and The Blowfish at the State Theater in Modesto, where they released their album Trace Elements and shared the stage with acts like Dishwalla, Marcy Playground, Everclear, and Third Eye Blind.
Dave’s transition into the world of DJs began with Bay Area legend DJ Solomon, his DJ mentor, taking their live act into major dance clubs from San Francisco to Las Vegas. This collaboration landed Dave a performance with DJ AM and Travis Barker of Blink-182 at Mezzanine. Dave also began his solo career, collaborating with renowned DJs such as Donovan, Hector Garza, Ean Golden, David Carvalho, Zhaldee, E-Rock, Trevor Simpson, and Whitenoize, and sharing the stage with international legends like Kaskade, Mark Farina, DJ Dan, Diplo, Double Touch (All Day I Dream), and Steve Aoki.
Performance Expertise
Dave specializes in destination weddings and corporate events globally. His artistry has taken him to perform for Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island, British Virgin Islands, on three occasions, alongside John Dill, Alex Cruz, and Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys. He has graced events such as the Oprah Network, TEDxSF, Summit Series DC10 with Bill Clinton and John Legend, and Hive Global Leaders Summit with Marianne Williamson. Dave has also earned accolades, winning an award with professional figure skater Ashley Clark at the US Open of Professional Figure Skating Championships. In 2019, Dave performed on the main stage at the BottleRock Festival with Michael Franti. Most recently, Dave was featured on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing with the Altman Brothers, showcasing his talent and versatility in high-profile settings.
Prestigious Venues
Dave has performed at some of the most prestigious venues and events worldwide, including:
Northern California & Beyond
Michael Loeb's Estate, Hamptons
City Hall, San Francisco
Karang Noi, Phuket, Thailand
BottleRock Festival, Napa
Solstice, Napa
Turtle Bay, Redding
US Open, Las Vegas
Princeville Resort, Kauai
Nestledown, Northern California
Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon
Presidio Golf Course, San Francisco
The Bohemian Club, San Francisco
Concourse d'Elegance - McLaren Solis GT Reveal, Pebble Beach
Two Bunch Palms, Desert Hot Springs
Burgruine Hohenbregenz, Bregenz, Austria
Admiral's Club, Treasure Island, San Francisco
Inn at Aspen, Aspen
Southern California & Orange County
Terranea Resort, Palos Verdes
NeueHouse, Los Angeles
Casa Lagos Estate, Beverly Hills
Keith Ferrazzi's Estate
Pauly Shore's Estate
The Waldorf Astoria, Laguna Niguel
The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel
The Pacific Club, Newport Beach
Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles
The Finish Line, Newport Beach
The Elwood Club at the Pendry, Newport Beach
Vibiana, Los Angeles
The Edition, West Hollywood
The Penthouse at the Roosevelt, Los Angeles
Shutters, Santa Monica
The Viceroy, Santa Monica
Vienza Windery, Temecula
Andaz, San Diego
Personal Life
Dave currently divides his time between San Francisco and Orange County, raising his two sons, Christian and Brandon.
He is also featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, and Goop. Dave specializes in providing all the music for your entire wedding. Using a loop pedal, he plays the electric violin to create the sound of an entire orchestra. Additionally, he performs live during cocktail hours and serves as a DJ and Emcee for receptions.
As an experienced audio engineer, Dave uses top-tier audio equipment and wireless microphone technology. His open-format DJing style pleases diverse audiences, seamlessly integrating live electric violin into his DJ sets.