Ms. Kim joined the New York Philharmonic in 2001 as the Assistant Concertmaster, The William Petschek Family Chair. Since joining the New York Philharmonic, she has enjoyed an active career as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Pacific Symphony, as well as various orchestras in Korea. As an active chamber musician, Ms. Kim has collaborated with artists including Cho Liang Lin, Christian Tetzlaff, Pinchas Zukerman, Mstislav Rostropovich, Lynn Harrell, Gary Hoffman, Lang Lang, Jean Yves Thibaudet, Alisa Weilerstein and Yefim Bronfman. She has performed at various festivals including the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, La Jolla Chamber Music Festival, Strings in the Mountain, and Bravo! Vail. Ms. Kim has also served as the first violinist of the Rossetti String Quartet.

Critics states that Ms. Kim’s performance has “beautiful tone production and melodic phrasing “, “Master of Musical Trade” and is “a bold and bracing all-around musician... [she] notched up the polish and heat on the first movement's cadenza, also delivering a feverish sparkle in the upbeat finale.” engages " with her vivid sonority and assertive technique”. The New York Times stated the "Gershwin’s own suite of “Porgy and Bess” highlights, sounded decidedly better, with a sweet-toned solo violin rendering of “Summertime,” by Michelle Kim, the orchestra’s assistant concertmaster, as the clear highlight.”

Ms. Kim is currently on the violin faculty of the Mannes School of Music and New York University. Previous teaching positions include USC/Thornton School of Music and the Colburn School for Performing Arts in California. She is also the Founder of Doublestop Foundation. Her foundation provides stringed instruments for deserving musicians who cannot afford to make such an investment on their own. To serve this mission the Foundation created two programs. With professional instruments valued at tremendous prices, the Instrument Loan Competition has become a necessity for every musician that desires the special qualities of that which only a fine instrument can provide. The Competition winners receive an instrument loan for three years and support from our network of professional mentors and partner organizations. The most beneficial component to the Competition is that each recipient is granted this coveted experience without the burden of indebtedness. As arts funding evaporates, The Regrant Project showers down on public schools and organizations with donations of high-quality student stringed instruments. The Regrant Project is at the helm of reviving and establishing new string programs, so that no child is ever denied the basic human right to play music.