Born in Korea and now based in Portland, Oregon, pianist Julia Hwakyu Lee has garnered acclaim for her clarity, hauntingly beautiful sound, and distinctive interpretations across a diverse repertoire, ranging from Baroque to contemporary works. Recent highlights of her career include captivating performances of Rhapsody in Blue with orchestras in both the Pacific Northwest and Korea.
Julia Hwakyu Lee, a dedicated performer and educator in both the United States and Asia, launched her career by winning the Gold Prize at the Hankook Ilbo Competition. She has also secured accolades at the Yeum Chamber Music Competition, Beethoven Competition, University of Wisconsin Concerto Competition, and Niagara International Chamber Competition. Her achievements include receiving the Collins Scholarship Award, the Arthur Becknell Award for Outstanding Collaborative Pianist, and the Gilmore Fellowship. Her collaborative performances include engagements with the Seoul I’ Musici Chamber Ensemble, Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, North Oregon Symphony, University of Portland Symphony Orchestra, Ulsan String Players Chamber Orchestra, Southwest Washington Wind Symphony, and Camerata Chonnam.
As a music scholar, Dr. Lee’s paper, "Fractals in Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 28," has been prominently featured at conferences organized by the College Music Society and the MTNA National Conference. This significant work is also cited in the fourth edition of Maurice Hinson's "Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire" and has been referenced in scholarly papers across the United States, Greece, and Italy.
Since relocating to Portland, Dr. Lee has been an active performer of contemporary music for over a decade, participating in the Makrokosmos Project and live broadcasts on All Classical Radio. She has also performed in the Inside Chamber Music Series and organized community-engaging performances. Her expertise as a jury member has taken her to various cities across the U.S., and she has conducted master classes as a visiting scholar at numerous universities.
Dr. Lee is deeply committed to nurturing emerging musicians. Her students have achieved notable success, winning local and international competitions such as the MTNA National Competitions and Seattle International Competitions. They have also collaborated with prestigious orchestras and secured scholarships and assistantships at renowned U.S. universities. Her graduates have gone on to teach at universities across Oregon and Washington.
Dr. Lee completed her education at Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School before attending Yonsei University. She earned her Master’s degree from the Korea National University of Arts and a Doctorate in Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her previous teaching positions include Southern Utah University and the University of Portland, and she currently serves as the head of the Piano Department at Portland State University.