Composer, Performer, Comedian: Jacob Kim ’26 on his ‘Yes, and’ Approach to Art

Diving into his classes and extracurriculars with an open mind, he found new callings across the arts — music composition, digital art, sewing and improv comedy are just a few of his creative outlets. He even plays the keys as part of Fool’s Errand, the soft-rock, 1970s-inspired student group that took home first place at last year’s Battle of the Bands competition. 

Kim, who receives the Collier Cobb Lilly Scholarship, enjoys playing and making music in his spare time, but it wasn’t until taking Associate Professor Joelle Dietrick’s “Intro to Digital Art” class that he began to apply those skills to academic work. That semester, he composed the music for Dietrick’s audiovisual art installation Chasing the Sun.

“Collaborating with her outside of class forced me to step out of my usual approach to composing music,” Kim said. “I love getting to work with and understand someone else's creative vision.”

Already planning to major in music, he declared a second major in digital screen and media through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.

“This major allowed me to combine my interest in the arts with my love of digital culture,” Kim said. “Not many colleges offer the opportunity to pursue a major like this, but with the growth of tech and AI, I think it’s becoming something crucial.”

His digital composition class taught him new tools and techniques that improved his solo-music creation and also gave him the confidence to perform in front of his peers. Fool’s Errand takes center stage at campus events, formals and other social gatherings throughout the year. 

“I’ve always wanted to be part of a band,” he said. “I wanted to know the feeling of being on stage, getting thrown into the water and forced to adapt to different genres and styles.”

While he mostly plays keys on stage, Kim has picked up a little bit of bass, electric guitar and drums. When his friends encouraged him to try out for the student troupe Oops! Improv Comedy, he accepted the challenge to explore a new kind of stage. 

“I really love jazz music, and improv is a big part of that,” he said. “Learning to be creative on the spot has made me a better musician and helped me feel more comfortable in front of people. It can be vulnerable to put yourself out there with no plan — I’ve built a lot of trust and confidence in the group and in myself.”

Last summer, Kim interned at Kontoor Brands, a global apparel company based in Greensboro, North Carolina. His role focused on videography and marketing, but spending time in the fashion industry, he discovered an unexpected passion for sewing. He bought himself a sewing machine and spent the next few months learning the basics. 

Since then, Kim has found ways to bring his new hobby into his life on campus. As the Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement (DACE) program manager, he’s helped organize clothes-mending workshops, expand the DACE Studio’s sewing resources and teach his peers how to make clothes. 

What’s next for Kim? A little bit of everything, most likely. 

The summer after his first year, he received a Davidson in East Asia Grant and worked at a music company in South Korea, where he composed and created music for various tech brands. When he thinks about potential careers, he now knows he’d like to find a role that combines his passion for music with his digital marketing and design skills. 

“There are so many different paths to creating and sharing art,” he said. “If I could do music at work every day, I’d be happy.”