“Jiyun Lee is a poet of the violin,

with a special love for beautiful sound.”

– Gerald Fischbach, Professor Emeritus of Violin and String Pedagogy at the University of Maryland

Violinist Jiyun Lee (formerly known as Joo-in Lee), described as a “violinist with full of expression, the most touching sound” has actively performed as a recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. She was born in Seoul Korea, started to play the violin at the age of 7. Dr. Lee’s musical talents were recognized by one of the most significant classical composers of Korea, Yung-chul Kim and the composer dedicated his work, ‘violin sonata’ to her to perform the piece in Se-jong Center for the Performing Arts, one of the biggest concert halls in Seoul. After pursuing her bachelor of music degree in Seoul, she came to the states to continue her music study. She earned the highest honor with her master’s degree and her doctorate of music degree with a full scholarship at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Lee did not only win the Homor Urlich Memorial Competition at the University of Maryland, where she received her masters of music as an honor graduate, but also has been a violin Principal of the University of Maryland’s Symphony. Addition to this, she was frequently invited to be a violin principal of Maryland Simphonieta, and performed as a soloist with the orchestra. She has received a full scholarship from National Institute of Orchestra and Brevard Summer Music Festival, where she performed with her chamber group which was selected as an honor chamber music group. She won a prize of Artists International Presentations Award and it led her to make her debut recital in Carnegie Weill Hall, New York.

In South Korea, Dr. Lee found the chamber music group with her Duo partner Minna Han, called ‘Ensemble MOSAIC’. This ensemble was the only Artist-in-Residence at Banpo Art Hall, where Dr. Lee has served as a music director.  As a music director of the hall and also the leader of the ‘Ensemble MOSAIC’, she has put her enthusiasm and sincere passion for educating and promoting very gifted young musicians and led them to the next step in the field of music.  Moreover, she has programed ‘Concerts with Talks’, ‘New Year’s Gala Concerts’, ‘Summer Concert Series’ for various levels of audiences’ and she has been acclaimed for these successful programs by ‘Strad, Korea’ and ‘International Piano, Korea’.

From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Lee served as a columnist of her monthly column titled “My Secret Recipe,” incorporating her love of classical music with her masterful culinary delights. As affirmed by the founder and editor of this magazine, this publication was South Korea’s first culinary magazine and Dr. Lee was the longest-contributed columnist of the magazine.

As a solo violinist and collaborator with others, Dr. Lee has been frequently performing at Recital Hall and IBK Chamber Hall in Seoul Arts Center, Young-san Art Hall, Baroque Chamber Hall, Banpo Art Hall, Mir Hall, Jang-chun Art Hall in Seoul and Busan Citizen Hall in Busan, South Korea. She enjoys performing as a duo with her duo partner Dr. Minna Han.  Her duo, named ‘Duo Soliste’-formerly known as ‘Duo Soleo’, has been performing through cities as Boston, Chicago, New York, San Diego, and San Francisco in the U.S and Seoul in South Korea since 2007. The major venues the duo has been invited to perform include the famed Carnegie Weill Hall, Preston Bradley Hall in the historic Chicago Cultural Center, Pritzker Auditorium, Crocker Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center, and many other venues.

Until most recently, Dr. Lee held a position of a concertmaster of Catholic Orchestra of Korea, and Korean Phillharmonic Orchestra. In addition to this, she judged in a number of major music competitions and auditions in Korea and nurtured great students at Catholic University of Korea, the Music Academy at the University of Suwon, and numerous middle and high schools for arts in Korea. She made them take a huge step towards studying music professionally and receiving awards and scholarships in Korea, the United States, and Europe.

Dr. Lee is deeply committed to music education. She believes in building confidence and empowering students by patience and diligence. She has a sympathetic ear with a kind and generous approach to her lessons. Many students look forward to them because she places emphasis on individual needs and interests, so they feel seen and heard.