May 2021 (for violin, guitar, bassoon, and percussion)

The giant finger-eating hamster is back, but this time as a quartet!

Recorded by International Contemporary Ensemble in May 2021.

April 2021 (for solo violin)

This piece is the self portrait of my brain—precisely, the 5% of it that is conscious, and the thoughts I am willing to share with the listener. It depicts the feeling of confinement that I often experience as a struggling trilingual. From the fast approaching fog that clouds my memory and steals away words and phrases of Korean and Japanese was born the notion of a glass box, an invisible force fencing me in from recalling what I once considered as basics of my native languages. It is merely a fun coincidence that my name in Korean means “glass”.

The G to A pizzicato motif is a key component that becomes the foundation of the piece, similar to breathing being the foundation of human beings.

What does the self portrait of your mind look like?

Feb. 2021 (for violin and classical guitar)

This piece was inspired by a weird dream I had, which involved getting chased by a 9 feet tall vicious hamster that indulges in eating human fingers - specifically thumbs. The rapid strumming of the guitar illustrates the victim desperately trying to shake off the hamster off of their hand. The melancholy theme introduced by the guitar makes the listener wonder, does the hamster have a sad history? Or has it always been, and will be, a masochistic fluff ball?

Jan. 2021 (for full orchestra)

From the Darkness is based on my favorite artist’s painting from 2008 and poem, which she exclaimed that the words rushed to her immediately after she finished the artwork, and it was written to celebrate her 80th birthday. The piece takes place in a dark, ominous forest filled only with the barely-audible chirps of insects, and the sudden arrival of three witches instantly brings magic and wonder. Their serenade is a soothing and remedying force that heals a trembling, lonely soul, and when their job is done, they vanish into thin air—perhaps to find the next fragile soul in need of comfort.

Selected as the apprentice composer of National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA)2022.

Merit Winner of the National YoungArts Competition in composition (2022).

1st Prize Winner of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Emerging Composers Competition Division 1 (2022).

Read by The Juilliard School Pre-College Symphony on May 7th, 2022.

illustrated by Satoko Kitagawa

Jan. 2021 (for brass quintet)

Inspired by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the brass quintet tells the story of a group of British schoolboys marooned on an uninhabited island and their disastrous attempt to govern themselves. First, the scar—the plane crash site—and the key players of the novel are introduced. The conch is blown by Ralph to summon the other boys from the plane, but organization is proven to be difficult, as most of them are still too young and unprepared for independence and maturity. Their efforts to build a signal fire to affect a rescue ends up putting a whole forest on fire. A boy gets lost in the midst of the chaos, and the battle against savagery begins.

Oct. 2020 (for orchestra & voice)

lyrics by Jessi Kaufman & music by Yuri Lee

Taking advantage of a global project that allowed for creativity to shine through, I collaborated with my friend, Jessi Kaufman, in writing Madame Deficit, which tells the story of the French Revolution through Marie Antoinette’s perspective. This song merges music of the two parties in dispute: the royal family and the poor. By gloating, complaining, and gossiping, the sassy queen brings the listener back to the major social upheaval in the 18th century.

Special thanks to all of the wonderful singers and the awesome lyricist!

illustrated by Satoko Kitagawa

The lyric video, with Nora Schell Podoll as Antoinette, was premiered in the virtual holiday concert video in Music Around Us Project (MAUP #16).

July 2020 (for piano quintet)

“Avast, Ye!” illustrates a pirate captain and the crew's adventure in search of the ancient tree rumored to hold the sap of salvation, which can heal any type of injuries and wounds. With the energetic opening, the ship sets sail and endures the wild, untamable waves in desperation to claim the magical power of the tree. As the sea calms down and the rain clouds roll away, the sun shines upon the colossal tree branches that bring hope and delight to the pirates. The celebration of their success filled with drinks, music, dancing, and laughter around the fire lasts forever - until of course when they become greedy for more.

Now, imagine yourself as the captain aboard your pirate ship. What treasure are you looking for? What is your adventure?

(Pirate Glossary: “Avast, ye!” means “Pay attention and check this out!”)

Premiered in MCM’s New Composers livestream 2020.

illustrated by Yuri Lee

June 2020 (for two violins)

Everyone knows the importance of practicing 40 hours a day, thanks to Brett and Eddy’s teachings of the Ling Ling ways. However, we must also remember that by playing our instruments, we are fulfilling their essence and dreams.

This violin duet illustrates the story of one lonely violin, waiting and waiting in its case to be played. Will the case ever be opened? Or will it forever remain in its quarantined state? Let us explore the antsy, flustered, dejected mind of the forgotten violin.

Premiered at Celebrating Luna Lab Fellows 2017-2020 livestream.

TwoSet Violin

May 2020 (for solo violin)

Flutter is based on Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, a dark fantasy novel about secret societies in Yale. This piece illustrates a particular moment when the protagonist first encounters magic. She is introduced to a magical moth species that can drink or suck up ink from any surface by beating their wings, and she comes to a shocking revelation that the world is not what it seems when the moths completely erase her full sleeve tattoo by drinking the ink on her arms. The beginning of this piece conveys waves of anxiety, the protagonist’s initial reaction to the moths - not only because she experiences magic for the first time, but because she has a phobia of butterflies. Then, with a “plink” of the tremolo and pizzicato double stop half way throughout the piece, the music illustrates the wonder, curiosity, and awe that soon overwhelms her.

illustrated by Yuri Lee

May 2020 (for full orchestra)

Hey Warrior, Keep Going was originally a brass quintet about overcoming obstacles in sports and other aspects of life. However, with the COVID-19 outbreak that brought many people in the world hardships and pain, I decided to orchestrate this piece to give energy and hope to everyone - the frontline workers, struggling laborers, the jobless, overworked parents - and to show appreciation towards those who are risking their lives to save others.