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Historical Piano Concerts Series
About the Musicians

Junghwa Lee

Junghwa Lee, piano

Pianist Junghwa Lee, a native of Korea, performs actively in solo recitals, chamber concerts and lecture recitals, and has frequently appeared in concerto performances as a soloist including those with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, Salina Symphony Orchestra, Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra and Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra among others. She has presented solo performances in Korea, Holland, France, Hungary, Romania, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including appearances at the Arts Center Concert Series at National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, Shenyang Music Cultural Exchange Exhibition Between China and Foreign Countries Festival in China, Beethoven 32 Sonatas Recital Series in Singapore, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center and her New York debut recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as a winner of Artists International’s Special  Presentation Award.

New York Concert Review says, “She is a pianist of acute intelligence, conviction… and passion.” The Manhattan Mercury mentioned, “Lee’s beautifully persuasive playing...” and wrote, “Lee…delivered her highly demanding program with masterful artistic control, integrity, and refinement.” The Philips County Review stated, “Flawless technique and exquisite attention to details left the young people and their parents dazzled by her performance...”

Winner of many competitions in Korea, including Sonyun-Hankuk-Ilbo, Wolgan-umak, Seoul National University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and the Korean Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Lee received the Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, along with the Max Landow Memorial Scholarship for outstanding doctoral students and the Liberace Foundation Scholarship for Performing/Creative Artists. As an active collaborator as well as soloist, she received the Excellence in Accompanying Award from the Eastman School.

With her interest in promoting music for young students and the community, she has also performed several times at the "Young People's Recital" as a guest solo artist, and has initiated and directed musical events, such as the Hays Spring Music Project and Scholarship Musicale in the Hays, Kansas area. As a dedicated teacher as well as performer, she has taught at many clinics, festivals and masterclasses, and organized the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) High School Piano Competition  and the FHSU Summer Piano Camp. She directed the Cottonwood Music Project, a weeklong chamber music outreach program and concerts, during 2003-2005.

Lee received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from Seoul National University. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. She served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano at Oklahoma State University, Assistant Professor of Piano at Fort Hays State University and is currently Associate Professor of Piano at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where she is Director of  the SIU Summer Piano Camp and Competition. She was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Egyptian Chapter of the Illinois Music Teachers Association.

Lee recorded the Complete Piano Works by Frank Stemper which has been released by Albany Records titled BLUE13. The CD has received a Gold Medal from Global Music Awards. In addition, it has been selected for Global Music Awards Top Ten Albums 2015.

We are pleased to welcome Junghwa Lee to her fifth appearance in the Historical Piano Series.