Artist Spotlight: Violin Virtuoso Yura Lee
With her captivating performances and remarkable technical prowess, Yura Lee has established herself as a violinist of extraordinary talent. Here we take a brief look at how this exciting Festival artist has made her unique mark on the classical music world!
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Yura Lee was born in South Korea. She was drawn to the violin at a young age, and her prodigious talent quickly became evident. By the time she was five years old, she was already performing in front of audiences.
Lee’s family provided her with the best possible education and opportunities to hone her craft, and through her unwavering dedication to her instrument, Lee soon caught the attention of prominent classical music artists and instructors.
Training and Education
Lee studied at several prestigious institutions, including The Juilliard School in New York City, the New England Conservatory in Boston, the Salzburg Mozarteum in Austria, and the Kronberg Academy in Germany. She’s a virtuoso violist as well as violinist, and her mentors have included Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, and Nobuko Imai, among others.
Career Highlights
Lee’s career took off rapidly, and she was soon performing with leading orchestras and at major concert halls around the world. She’s appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and Berlin Philharmonic, among many other ensembles, and, as a performer, she’s been praised for her emotional depth, impeccable technique, and connection with her audience. Lee is also an accomplished chamber musician. Her versatility and ability to adapt to different musical contexts has made her a sought-after collaborator who’s performed with some of the most acclaimed musicians in the world, including pianist Mitsuko Uchida, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and violist Kim Kashkashian. Lee is also a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles.
Awards and Recognitions
Yura Lee’s contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous honors and awards. She participated in competitions throughout her formative years, and she won top prizes at the Bashmet, Hannover, Indianapolis, Kreisler, Mozart, and Paganini competitions. At the age of 12, she became the youngest musician to receive National Public Radio’s Debut Artist of the Year prize at the Performance Today awards. Lee also stood out at the 2013 ARD International Music Competition when she won first prize across four of its categories. As a recording artist, Lee won a Diapason d’or for her CD Mozart in Paris.
Lee is also a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is awarded to outstanding instrumentalists with great potential for a significant solo career, and she received the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, which supports young musicians in their artistic development.
Her performances are Wednesday, July 17, 2024 and Saturday, July 20, 2024
