Praised for her “musical integrity” and “warmth” by the La Jolla Light, Korean-American cellist Julia-Hyunji Lee is a versatile and deeply engaged artist whose performances are distinguished by her sincerity, expressive depth, and commitment to meaningful connection. Equally at home on the recital stage, in chamber music, and on solo stages, Julia has built a multifaceted career that brings together performance, collaboration, education, and community engagement.

A prizewinner of the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition, Julia has also been a finalist in the Susan Barbash J.S. Bach Competition and competed in the prestigious Naumburg International Cello Competition. She is a recipient of the Mary Alice Cox Award and First Prize at the Florida Federation of Music Clubs Competition. As a soloist, she has performed with the Ocala Symphony, Alachua County Symphony, and University of Florida Chamber Orchestra.

Julia’s performances have taken her to some of America’s most distinguished stages, including her Carnegie Hall debut at age 12, Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall, and the Kennedy Center, as well as prominent concert series and festivals across the country. Her artistry has also reached audiences through repeated broadcasts on WFMT Radio in Chicago, bringing her performances to listeners beyond the concert hall.

At the heart of Julia’s musical life is chamber music. She has collaborated with a range of artists, including Ida Kavafian, Ani Kavafian, Clive Greensmith, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Catherine Cho, Ara Gregorian, Robert McDonald, Inon Barnatan, Blake Pouliot, Merry Peckham, Julie Albers, Molly Carr, and Bion Tsang. Her chamber music engagements have included the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, La Jolla Music Society SummerFest, Perlman Music Program, Music in the Vineyards Festival, and other distinguished chamber-music series and festivals.

Julia’s recent and upcoming appearances include her Alice Tully Hall debut with the Edith Quartet as part of Juilliard’s Honors Chamber Music Program, performances with the Montage Music Society in Santa Fe, Dame Myra Hess Series, Core Memory Music Series, and an artist in residence position at the Lunenburg Academy of Music. She has worked closely with the Takács Quartet through their String Quartet Seminar and has performed in Juilliard’s ChamberFest. Her dedication to chamber music has also led her to renowned programs including the Aspen Music Festival, Orford Musique, Music Academy of the West, The Perlman Music Program, Kneisel Hall, and Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival.

In addition, Julia served as principal cellist of The Juilliard Orchestra for four consecutive years. During her time, she performed under internationally acclaimed conductors including Marin Alsop, Gustavo Dudamel, David Robertson, David Chan, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Mei-Ann Chen. Her orchestral engagements have included a side-by-side performance with the New York Philharmonic, a substitute appearance with the New World Symphony, and serving as principal cello in Juilliard’s 2x4 Kennedy Center collaboration with violinists Jaime Laredo and Jennifer Koh. She also served as principal cellist and coordinator of the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra and as Teaching Assistant to Eric Bartlett for Juilliard’s Orchestral Repertoire course.

Beyond the concert stage, Julia is passionate about cultivating the next generation of musicians and expanding the role of classical music within the community. This past fall, she joined as faculty of the New York Youth Symphony’s Chamber Music Program, where she coaches advanced young musicians in collaborative performance and interpretation. She regularly works with Molly Carr’s Project: Music Heals Us, leading workshops and performances through its Music For The Future initiative. She has also collaborated with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s Reflections program, bringing interactive musical experiences to individuals living with Alzheimer’s.

Her commitment to music education began in her hometown of Gainesville, Florida, where she co-founded the Buchholz High School String Orchestra, the school’s first string program, helping create access to instrumental music for underserved students. For Julia, these experiences reflect a powerful means of building community and creating lasting human connections.

Julia earned her Bachelor of Music under the mentorship of Darrett Adkins and her Master of Music with the late Joel Krosnick as a C.V. Starr Scholarship recipient. She has also been fortunate to study with and receive mentorship from Wendy Warner and Chungsun Kim, with additional musical inspiration from distinguished cellists Laurence Lesser and Frans Helmerson.

Julia is currently based in New York City. In her free time, she loves practicing yoga, reading, and spending time with her cat, Clover.