Mihi Kim's musical talent has become a concrete way of serving God, especially in the Priestly Ordinations of the Legionaries of Christ in Rome, where his performance stems from an inner experience shaped by faith. What is different for a musician when performing at a priestly ordination?
You’re a Korean flutist living in Paris. How did your journey in music begin, and what role has faith played in it?
I was born in Seoul but grew up in Germany. I’ve been playing the flute for over 40 years, immersing myself in the experience, practice, and exploration of the invisible. Art, in general, has a very metaphysical connection to faith. However, I felt that a link was missing: I always had the impression that I needed to understand the “why” and the “what for” behind all the sacrifice.
As a flute student, Mihi grappled with that existential question of “Is there something missing?”, which led her on a journey of faith. (Image credit: Mihi Kim)
Despite my efforts during my musical studies, I always felt that something was missing. As performers, we need to become as transparent as possible; that is, we must not get in the way and must devote a great deal of time to mastering our gestures so that we can empty ourselves more and more, even during complex technical passages. Throughout my journey of faith, I came to understand that all of this allows Christ to shine through me. My role is to empty myself and become transparent—as empty and clear as possible—and then it is He who acts.
Could you share a little about your journey of faith? Was there a particular moment that stood out in your experience of following Christ?
When I was 22, my older sister married a member of a Korean Catholic family, which led me to be baptized as well. I began attending church and Mass and made some friends. The real turning point came when I met Father Valentin Gögele, a Legionary of Christ, on a plane in 2022.
I later learned that my mother had also been baptized as an adult, at the age of 20, and that she had been married to my father in Munich. They were committed to raising us in the faith. Growing up between Germany and Korea, I always had a children’s Bible and loved reading it.
How did you first learn about Regnum Christi? Could you tell us about that first encounter and what drew you to this charism?
Since I travel frequently for work, I had the opportunity, as I mentioned earlier, to meet Father Valentin on a flight back from Frankfurt to Paris, where I had gone to visit my family. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he was sitting next to me. I approached him because I was concerned about one of my students; when I noticed his clerical collar, I asked him for a blessing.
He kindly gave me a St. Benedict cross and told me about Regnum Christi and the communities in Königstein and Boulogne, each about five minutes from my respective homes. Father Valentin continued to guide me until I finally found my spiritual family and joined Regnum Christi about a year and a half later.
I believe that “making present the mystery of Christ who goes out to meet people,” as stated in Article 8 of the Regnum Christi Statutes, was a key reason for this experience. I felt deeply blessed every time I came into contact with the spiritual family, which awakened in me a strong desire to be part of it. Although at that time I did not fully understand its deeper meaning, joining the Regnum Christi family soon became a clear goal and a source of motivation.
God has given you a great musical gift. What motivates you to use that gift to serve others?
When you perform, in a way you hold the time of your audience in your hands. And you always want to offer them the best: a little comfort, a little hope, a little beauty in that moment. That’s not so different from the Gospel.
Music brings me joy, and I want to share that joy with others through it. And since I am happiest when I make music for God, I want others to experience that same joy.
How did you start playing at the priestly ordinations of the Legionaries of Christ? Do you remember the first time you were invited?
In the summer of 2023, Father Valentin invited me to visit several communities in Germany and France. During that time, I played at Masses and shared testimonies about music every weekend for about a month. Father Valentin appreciated my enthusiasm and joy at being part of the spiritual family.
The invitation to perform at the priestly ordinations came about quite naturally and quickly. He felt it was important for me to get to know the spiritual family in its entirety. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what that entailed. After having given more than a thousand concerts, I thought, “Well, it’s no big deal,” and I accepted. However, my first experience had a profound impact on me and overwhelmed me.
As a professional musician, what does it mean to you to perform at a priestly ordination? Is it different from performing at other concerts or events?
I think about the dimension of the Holy Spirit. No matter the context, I can’t interpret my music unless my mind is empty. When I play with an empty mind, only a few small nuances emerge here and there, which I try to translate into music.
But during Mass, in church, and especially at ordinations, my heart is filled with love, warmth, and light. The long and thorough training I’ve received over the years helps me keep those intense emotions in check. It all flows through my breath—just like the Holy Spirit!
I just want to offer the Lord what I have and discover His boundless grace.
When people listen to your music in a religious context, what do you hope they will discover or experience?
Paradise. Not just something imagined, but a tangible, real, and audible paradise.
This year, the Priestly Ordinations de los Legionarios de Cristo en Roma se llevarán a cabo el 2 de mayo de 2026 en la Basílica de San Pablo Extramuros, y Mihi participará nuevamente interpretando su música en la ceremonia. Previo al día de las ordenaciones, el 1 de mayo, se realizará el RC Gatheringwill take place, a gathering in Rome of the Regnum Christi family to pray for the priestly ordinations and to participate in the celebrations following this moment of grace.
En el siguiente vídeo, Mihi interpreta el Avemaría en las ordenaciones sacerdotales de 2025.
Profile
Mihi Kim is a Franco-Korean flutist with an international career. Born in Seoul, she trained in Germany and France and currently resides in Paris. She began her musical studies at a very young age and developed her talent under the guidance of renowned flute masters, which led her to pursue advanced training at institutions such as the Paris Conservatory and various Hochschulen German conservatories. Over the course of more than four decades devoted to music, he has pursued an artistic journey characterized by depth, discipline, and an exploration of the meaning of his own art.
As a concert artist, she has maintained a busy international schedule, with over a thousand performances in Europe and Asia. Her repertoire spans both classical and contemporary music; in the latter field, she has collaborated with contemporary composers and premiered works written especially for her. She has performed at major venues and festivals in countries such as France, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, and combines her concert activities with projects that integrate different musical styles.
In addition to her career as a performer, Mihi Kim is a dedicated educator. She has taught at institutions such as the École Normale de Musique de Paris and conservatories in the Paris area, training numerous students who are now pursuing their own professional careers. Her international recognition includes awards from prestigious competitions and an active presence in the educational sphere through master classes and academic collaborations, thus establishing herself as a well-rounded artist, both on stage and in the classroom.
