Since her debut performance of the Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major with the Daegu Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 14, Dr. Hyojin Lee has appeared as an active soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Asia, and the United States. She has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the Slovak Košice National Philharmonic, the Hungary Savaria Symphony, Soli Deo Orchestra, the Kyungbook Symphony, the Keimyung University Orchestra, and Multimedia Art Ensemble ARS, the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra among many others, performing the Dvorak, Beethoven, Haydn concertos, and contemporary works. She has given solo and chamber recitals at venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center in New York, Auer Hall in Indiana and Nicholas Music Center, NJ. She has served as principal cellist of the Indiana Concert Orchestra, IN, Daegu Contemporary Music Orchestra (South Korea), and Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra (Princeton, NJ) and as guest principal cellist of Daegu Opera Festival Orchestra and Ital' Opera Orchestra, South Korea.

 

She won multiple prizes in national and international competitions such as National Music Competition sponsored by TBC Broadcasting Corporation, National Youth Competition sponsored by Keimyung University and Jinhae Goonhang Music Festival National Competition, South Korea and first prize of American Protege International Piano & String Competition and fist prize of American Protege International Concerto Competition (both professionals Category), USA.

 

Ms. Lee was a recipient of the Dean’s Music Merit Scholarship at Indiana University, where she received her Master of Music degree and her Performer’s Diploma. She is holding the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University, where she was awarded the top scholarship with full Scholarship and Stipend. Her major teachers are all world-renowned
cellists and Tchaikovsky Competition judges, including prominent figures such as Csaba Onczay,
Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Kazimierz M. Michalik. Additionally, she had the privilege of learning from the
legendary cellist Janos Starker, whose influence significantly shaped her musical development. She has participated in numerous master classes with such artists as Gary Hoffman, Julius Berger, Werner Thomas-Mifune, and Timothy Eddy, as well as festivals in Europe including the Mozarteum Music Festival (Austria) and the Zagan Music Academy (Poland).

 

A strong advocate of contemporary music, Ms. Lee has premiered numerous works by composers including Eunshil Kwon, Gregory Kim, Jaman Koo, Stefan Swanson, Gregory Rossetti and Joshua Booth. Equally enthusiastic about early music, she has explored Baroque cello with Christine Gummere and 18th-century performance practice with Rebecca Cypess, presenting chamber recitals on period instruments.

 

Dr. Lee teaches a vibrant cello studio and directs student string ensembles in Princeton, NJ. She served as cello faculty and chamber music coach in the Rutgers University Extension Division and during the summer at the ASTA/NJ Chamber Music Institute. She currently serves as a chamber music coach at Bravura Youth program and cello instructor in Peddie school, as well as a cello instructor and chamber music coach at the 4string Music Festival in New York and the Northern Light Music Festival in Northern Minnesota where she performs as the principal cellist of the festival orchestra and chamber musician during the summer. She also serves as a Chamber Program Artist Faculty at John Perry Academy of Music. Her cello students have won first prizes in international competitions in Korea and the United States, performing in such venues as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Her students have been also very successful at All State [NJMEA] and Regional [CJMEA] auditions. For the past several years, they have consistently earned the first chair of All State [NJMEA] in both middle school and high school. One student won 2nd chair of All Eastern. In 2024, a total of ten of her students were accepted into the All-State high school and middle school orchestras, claiming the highest chairs in both. Dr. Lee starts one-on-one cello instruction with students as young as three years old.

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Dr. Lee serves as the string chair of NJMTA (New Jersey Music Teachers Association).