Junghwa Lee | SIU

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 … [audience] dazzled by her performance...”

Winner of many competitions in Korea, including Sonyun-Hankuk-Ilbo, Wolgan-Eumak, Seoul National University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Korean Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Lee received the prestigious 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 has directed SIU Summer Piano Camp and Competition since 2011, and is artistic director of Southern Illinois Piano Festival.

As an active researcher and performer, Lee has presented at various conferences including MTNA National Conferences, CMS National Conferences and Regional Conferences, ISMTA State Conferences, “Performing Clara Schumann” Conference at Cornell University among others, and recorded the Complete Piano Works by Frank Stemper, released by Albany Records titled BLUE13. The CD received a Gold Medal from Global Music Awards. In addition, it has been selected for Global Music Awards Top Ten Albums 2015.

A new album Clara Schumann: Piano Works commemorating Schumann’s 200^th anniversary of birth year was recorded in 2019 and released by Centaur Records in March 2021 and has been awarded a Gold Star in the Best Piano Solo CD category on June 12, 2021 at “Music & Stars Awards,” an International Online Music Competition based in Barcelona, Spain.

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. Lee served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano at Oklahoma State University, Assistant Professor of Piano at Fort Hays State University and is currently Professor of Piano at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

For recording samples and more reviews, please visit jleepiano.com.