YuJeong Lee

Young, vibrant cellist YuJeong Lee is emerging as a dynamic presence on the international concert stage and is one of the most sought-out Korean cellists of her generation. Ms. Lee’s warm, lush tone, tremendous musical sensitivity and adventurous performances have earned plaudits from audiences, critics, competition juries alike.

Having started playing the cello at the age of nine, YuJeong Lee has pursued her musical studies internationally at Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris (entering at the age of 15), Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, and has graduated from The Juilliard School by completing Professional Studies where she was a recipient of Genevieve Hustead scholarship.
Ms. Lee gave her debut recital at the age of 13 in Sejong Hall in Seoul, Korea and has been performing extensively in Korea, Europe and the U.S. performing recitals in Belgium, Holland, Italy, France, and in New York in many prestigious halls such as the Kumho Art Hall (Korea), Kauffmann Hall (Belgium), Royal Academy of London (UK), American-Irish Society of NY (USA), Harvard Club of New York (USA), as well as invitations from the Swiss Embassy, American Embassy of Korea, Korean Music Society in Washington D.C., and consistent appearances at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, Recital Hall and IBK Chamber Hall.

She has performed chamber music concerts at Seiji Ozawa Hall of Tanglewood Music Festival (USA), Cite de la Musique (Paris, France), Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center (NY, USA), Juilliard Paul Hall (NY, USA), Franz Liszt Academy at Y.E.S. Music Festival (Budapest, Hungary), Siena Accademia Chigiana (Siena, Italy), Encore Summer School (USA), Sarasota Music Festival (USA), Lindenbaum Festival (Korea) and as an active chamber and ensemble musician, has collaborated with groups such as Ensemble Nouvelle Generation de Paris, Hwaum Chamber Ensemble, Korea Chamber Orchestra, Seoul Spring Chamber Music Festival Ensemble, and Lindenbaum Festival Ensemble. Her performances have been heard on TBS, KBS FM and WQXR.
Lynn Harrell, one of the most respected cellists in the world today, expresses his ardent support of Ms. Lee, who he affirms that she is “undoubtedly a cellist of extraordinary ability” and “without a doubt one of the very few cellists performing at the highest echelon in the field of music”. 
Her numerous competition awards include Tchaikovsky International Competition for Young Musicians (finalist, special prize winner at Sendai, Japan), Ewha, Dong-Ah, Joong-Ang, Korea Music Competition, Holland-America Music Society Competition, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Competition and has studied with cellists Mischa Maisky, Philippe Muller, Myung Wha Chung, Richard Aaron, Joel Krosnick and through masterclasses with Frans Helmerson and Boris Pergamenschikow. 

In addition to her concerts as soloist and chamber musician, in 2009, Ms. Lee has joined the faculty of Seoul Arts Center Academy for Young Musicians.
“Strad”, the internationally acclaimed music magazine described as ‘sensitive, flawless, dynamic’ on her performance of Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations with Kangnam Symphony Orchestra with conductor Hyun-Suk Suh at Seoul Arts Center. 

Ms. Lee’s engagements of past seasons have included solo appearances with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock, Kanezawa Orchestra Ensemble of Japan, Sendai Philharmonic, Wartburg Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, many of Korea’s leading orchestras such as the Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra, Changwon Philharmonic, Daegu Philharmonic, Prime Philharmonic, Kangnam Symphony Orchestra, Wonju Philharmonic, Mokpo Philharmonic, Changwon Symphonietta, Gwangju Philharmonic, as well as numerous reinvitations, performing with maestros such as Mishiyoshi Inoue, Vahktang Jordania, Jose Ferreira Lobo, Shinik Hahm, Hyun-Suk Seo, Bong Kim, Yoon-Sung Chang, Florian Krumpoeck, Perry So.

“YuJeong Lee demonstrated tremendous musical integrity and technical command.  Ms. Lee showed great insight in her soulful performance of the Elgar Concerto, capturing the work’s essence with absolutely no excess affectation.”  
- Korea Daily News 

“YuJeong Lee’s performance of Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations was excellent, showcasing her extraordinary technique and remarquable intonation.” 
- Joong Ang Daily News 

“YuJeong Lee’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations Op. 33 showed technical flawlessness, rich sound and rational ways of phrasings, all which generated the performance into a success.”
- The Strad