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 unique themes and extramusical ideas, 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.
After studying composition with Manuel Sosa and Daniel Felsenfeld and violin with Lucie Gelinas at the Juilliard School Preparatory Division for 7 years as well as receiving Reena Esmail’s mentorship at Luna Composition Lab, she is studying at Princeton University as an intended music major to explore the raw, vast elements of life that will offer new perspectives and stories for her compositions. She is enjoying playing in the Princeton University Orchestra and singing in the Princeton Chamber Choir.
Yuri 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. She aspires to become a film composer and hopes to touch more and more people’s hearts.
Composition Awards
The Juilliard School Pre-College Composition Competition
2022 Winner - “Scarlet Symphony Mvt. I - Hester, the Adulterer”
ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Award
2020 Winner - “Opera - Perseus and Medusa”
National YoungArts Competition
2023 Finalist Winner (Composition) - “Scarlet Symphony Mvt. I - Hester, the Adulterer”, “Nyarlock Tango”
2022 Merit Winner (Composition) - “End of the Tunnel”, “From the Darkness”
The American Prize National Nonprofit Competition in Composition
2022 Winner (Instrumental Chamber High School Division) - “Nyarlock Tango”
2021 National Finalist & Career Encouragement Certificate recipient (Orchestra Student Division) - “Hey Warrior, Keep Going”
National Young Composers Challenge
2022 Orchestra Winner - “Scarlet Symphony Mvt. I - Hester, the Adulterer”
2021 Ensemble Winner - “Mosquito Stars”
2019 Orchestra Finalist - “Bradbury Symphony mov. IV - The Day it Rained Forever”
The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of NY Emerging Young Composers Competition
2022 1st Prize Winner (Orchestral Division 1) - “From the Darkness”
NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association)
2022 Winner of Call for Creators Young Composers Honors Concert - “Frome”
2020 Winner of Call for Composers & Songwriters - “Chess” (for solo piano)
Tribeca New Music Young Composer Competition
2022 Honorable Mention - “Nyarlock Tango”
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)
2022 Apprentice Composer - “From the Darkness” “Madame Deficit”
Luna Composition Lab
2018-19 Fellow & Patrina Foundation Fellowship Recipient - “Scene V - Medusa Tango” (from Perseus and Medusa)
NPR’s From the Top
2022 Learning and Media Lab Fellow (composition)
Violin Performances
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