Yuri Lee - Composer and Violinist

Juilliard Preparatory Division composer (2016-23) ➡️ Princeton (‘27) music major 🐅


Yuri (b. 2004) is a Korean-Japanese composer and violinist based in NY with the dream of making people happy with music. With extramusical ideas and memorable melodies, her music tells a story and stimulates the listener's imagination. Her compositions have been recognized and performed by various organizations and musicians, including the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, The Little Orchestra Society, Nu Deco Ensemble, International Contemporary Ensemble, Mivos String Quartet, NYO-USA, Duo Cortona, Pedro Giraudo, Trifilio Tango Trio, and Composers Now 2019 Opening Event at National Opera Center.

She studied composition with Manuel Sosa and Daniel Felsenfeld and violin with Lucie Gelinas at the Juilliard School Preparatory Division for 7 years, and received Reena Esmail’s mentorship at Luna Composition Lab. Currently, she is studying at Princeton University as a music major to explore the raw, vast elements of life that will offer new perspectives and stories for her compositions. She is an avid member of the Princeton University Orchestra, Glee Club, Chamber Choir, and Decem.

She also founded Music Around Us Project, where she organizes concerts with young musicians for seniors in an assisted living facility and young children in the community, to achieve her life goal of spreading the joy of music.

Yuri aspires to touch more and more people’s hearts through her orchestral music.


Composition Awards

The Juilliard School Pre-College Composition Competition

  • 2022 Winner - “Scarlet Symphony Mvt. I - Hester, the Adulterer”

ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Award

National YoungArts Competition

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competition in Composition

National Young Composers Challenge

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of NY Emerging Young Composers Competition

NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association)

Tribeca New Music Young Composer Competition

Concordia Conservatory’s "Hear it Live!" showcase concert

  • 2018 winner - "Plane Ride"

  • 2017 winner - “Cherry Brownies”


Composition Festivals

NYO-USA (National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America)

Luna Composition Lab

NPR’s From the Top

  • 2023 composer on Show 430

  • 2022 Learning and Media Lab Fellow (composition)


Violin Performances

All-Stars National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) (2024)

National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) (2023)

NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association)

  • 2022 All-State Symphony Orchestra

  • 2016, 2018-20 Westchester All-County Orchestra, Concertmaster (2018)

The Juilliard School Pre-College Chamber Ensemble (2020-23)

Manhattan Chamber Music (2016-)

Face the Music - Pannonia Quartet (2018-19)


Violin Awards

International Music Competition Bonn “Grand Prize Virtuoso”

  • 2020 1st Prize winner

Concert festival International Competitions

  • 2019 Grand Prix Winner

  • 2017 Grand Prix Winner