Gilwoo Kim began his clarinet studies at the age of 12 and soon progressed to the Seoul Arts High School and the Seoul National University where he studied under Sooyeon Hong and Jerry Chae. He is a laureate of many competitions including the EWHA Kyunghyang Competition, the Seoul National University Wind Alumni Competition and others. Gilwoo has appeared as a soloist with the Yewon Orchestra, Seoul Arts High School Orchestra and Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and has occupied the principal clarinet chair of the Seoul National University Orchestra, the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra and the DePaul University Orchestra. Following his studies in Seoul, he was a student at DePaul University with Stephen Williamson and was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.