SUng JIn Lee
Sung Jin Lee, a violist from South Korea, has been praised by New York Concert Review’s Frank Daykin as an “excellent singing violist.” A versatile and well-rounded artist, she is active as a chamber musician, orchestral player, pedagogue, and advocate of contemporary music. She is the founder of the Pelia Quartet and serves as Artistic Director of the Callias Ensemble. In addition, she performs regularly with ensembles such as Sejong Soloists, Delirium Musicum, and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
In 2013, she was awarded the Special Prize at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, marking the beginning of her solo career. Since then, she has received numerous awards, including first prize at the Just Viola Festival, the Stony Brook Concerto Competition, the Korean Symphony Rising Star Series, and several regional competitions in Korea. At the age of 22, she began performing as a substitute with The Philadelphia Orchestra while simultaneously serving as principal violist of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
An active performer, she has established an international presence both as a soloist and chamber musician. Her festival appearances include Kronberg’s Chamber Music Connects the World, Music@Menlo, and the Verbier Festival Academy, where she was invited as a solo violist. She has also performed at leading chamber music series in NY such as the Caramoor Rising Stars, Jupiter Chamber Players, and New York Classical Players (NYCP). Through these and other engagements, she has collaborated with renowned artists such as Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, Christian Tetzlaff, Nobuko Imai, Itzhak Perlman, the Dover Quartet, Pamela Frank, and many others. Her performances have also been widely featured across various media platforms, including Arte TV, KUSI News, WQXR, Vogue Magazine, New York Concert Review, and The Boston Musical Intelligencer.
In addition to her work in traditional repertoire, Sung Jin is deeply committed to contemporary music and innovative performance. She has premiered works by numerous living composers, including David Hertzberg, Chris Rogerson, and Texu Kim. One of her most notable projects was the premiere of David Hertzberg’s chamber opera The Rose Elf, performed at the Catacombs in Brooklyn. This production received critical praise from The New York Times, WQXR, and others, demonstrating her dedication to expanding the viola repertoire and exploring unconventional performance spaces.
As a member of the Pelia String Quartet — Bronze Medalists of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Special Prize winners at the Wigmore International String Quartet Competition, and First Prize winners of the Ackerman Chamber Music Competition — the ensemble has performed alongside inspiring artists, including the Emerson Quartet, Tessa Lark, David Shifrin, and Johannes Moser. During her time with the group, the quartet served as Ensemble-in-Residence at Williams College, SUNY Rockefeller Institute, and the Pierrot Chamber Music Festival at Adelphi University. The Pelia Quartet has also been invited to Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Alice Tully and festivals such as the La Jolla Music Society SummerFest, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland.
Beginning her orchestral leadership as principal violist at the Curtis Institute of Music, Sung Jin has since held leadership roles with numerous ensembles. She has been invited as guest principal violist with the Chamber Orchestra of New York, Pan Asia Orchestra, Camerata Virtuosi Orchestra, among others. In addition, she serves as Artistic Director of the Callias Ensemble in Westchester, where she actively organizes and leads performances, contributing to the growth of the classical music community.
A dedicated educator, Sung Jin earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University. She has taught a wide range of students, from young beginners to pre-college and college-level musicians. During her time as a quartet-in-residence member with the Pelia Quartet, she provided numerous chamber music lessons and masterclasses. In addition, she serves on the faculty at Musart School, where her students have successfully gained admission to prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Korea National University of Arts, and many others. Beyond her teaching, Sung Jin has also served as a juror for the Sphinx Orchestral Partners Audition Excerpt Competition, as well as a jury member and director for the LISMA International Music Competition.
Sung Jin holds a Bachelor's degree from The Curtis Institute of Music, a Master's degree from The Juilliard School, an Artist Diploma student at The Manhattan School of Music and a Doctor of Music at Stony Brook University, all on full scholarships. She plays a viola made by her father, Ju Hyung Lee.