Black Diamond teen makes it to final round of national talent show
Published 10:45 am Thursday, April 16, 2026
The city of Black Diamond is represented in this year’s K12 Talent Showdown, hosted by K12, a national-wide educational services provider.
Eighth grader Reina Kim has been practicing violin since she was four years old; her hard work continues to pay off, as she is one three musical finalists in her grade band out of hundreds of other students from across the county to make it to the final round; she’ll be competing live in front of judges and a national, virtual audience on June 8.
Reina said her mother introduced her to the violin, despite the fact that her mother was not a musician. She quickly grew to love the string instrument.
“I like how I can perform and share music with other people, and I like studying different kids of music,” she said in a recent interview; performing “makes me feel really happy, that my music is being shared, and also that someone enjoys my music.”
Mozart is her favorite musician and composer.
“I like how his style of music… you can interpret it in different ways,” Reina said. “There’s different styles I can play it, and I really like listening to various different musicians and seeing how someone does this, or someone does [that] differently.”
Her favorite contemporary musicians include violinist Hilary Hahn and Ray Chen.
Reina started entering music competitions when she was seven years old, which was also when she was enrolled in the Seattle-based Coleman Violin Studio.
She performed at Cargeie Hall when she was 11 after she placed first in Reach For Elite’s Elite International Music Competition, and she plays at Benayora Hall every year with her studio.
“It’s really nerve-wracking before I go on stage, but hearing people applaud and looking at people’s faces really makes me happy that they’re enjoying my music,” Reina said.
If Reina places first in her category and grade band — she’s up against a pianist from Ohio and a guitarist from Florida — in the talent show, she’ll win $500 and, of course, bragging rights.
But the Black Diamond community, and anyone else who enjoys her music, can participate by voting live during the live-streamed performances to be honored as the People’s Choice winners and receive $250.
Head to enrichment.k12.com/talent-showdown/ for a link to the final performances.
To enjoy more of Reina’s performances, you can find her YouTube channel at @
