Texu Kim (김택수, b.1980) is "one of the most active and visible composers of his generation" (San Francisco Classical Voice), writing music that transforms unconventional sources — from everyday encounters to overlooked human stories — into sophisticated, culturally grounded works infused with clarity, wit, and nuance. As a Korean-American, Kim explores the localization of imported traditions, incorporating cross-cultural elements that have drawn the interest of orchestras and conductors worldwide. Characterized by"exuberant, colorful washes of sound" (San Diego Story), his music is at times "explosively virtuosic" (Wall Street Journal), yet consistently uplifting and rewarding for both listeners and performers.

Texu’s work has been performed by the New York Philharmonic, LA Phil, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, San DiegoSymphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, New York YouthSymphony, Philharmonia, National Orchestra of Korea, Seoul PhilharmonicOrchestra, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Alarm Will Sound, Sejong Soloists, New York Classical Players, the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, C4: Choral Composer/Conductor Collective, Cardinal Singers, NOTUS, Red Clay Saxophone Quartet, the Verona Quartet, and more.

A recipient of the 2026 American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Arts and Letters Award in Music – one of four composers recognized this cycle for having "arrived at their own voice” – Texu has received awards and honors from the Fromm Foundation, Barlow Prize, Ilshin Foundation, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Copland House, SCI/ASCAP, and IsangYun International Composition Prize.

A professor of music in composition at Indiana University, Texu has previously taught at San Diego State University and Syracuse University. He has also served as the Artist-of-the-Year of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra and as the Composer-in-Residence of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, where he launched the Composers' Atelier program to educate and commission emerging composers. His mentors include Unsuk Chin, Sangjick Jun, David Dzubay, Claude Baker, and Sven-David Sandström.