About Me

Praised for her “musical integrity” and “warmth” by the La Jolla Light, Korean-American cellist Julia Lee is committed to creating meaningful and authentic connections through music. A prizewinner of the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition, she has also been a finalist of the Susan Barbash J.S. Bach Competition, a semifinalist in the Concert Artists Guild Competition, and most recently competed in the prestigious Naumburg International Cello Competition. She has received 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 the University of Florida Chamber Orchestra.

A passionate chamber musician, Julia has performed alongside esteemed artists such as Clive Greensmith, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Catherine Cho, Ara Gregorian, Robert McDonald, Inon Barnatan, Blake Pouliot, Merry Peckham, Julie Albers, and Molly Carr. Her recent and upcoming appearances include her debut in Alice Tully Hall as a member of the Edith String Quartet, a performance tour through Southern California with Project: Music Heals Us, and her festival debut at Music in the Vineyards in Napa Valley.

Julia has performed in celebrated festivals including the Perlman Music Program, La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest, Music in the Vineyards Festival in Napa Valley, The Aspen Music Festival, and The Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival. She has also studied at Kneisel Hall, Music Academy of the West, Orford Musique, and the Zukerman Young Artists Program. She has worked closely with the Takács Quartet in their seminar and performed in Juilliard’s ChamberFest. Julia also served as principal cellist and coordinator of the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra in 2022.

In orchestral settings, Julia has served as principal cellist of The Juilliard Orchestra for four consecutive years, performing under conductors such as Marin Alsop, Gustavo Dudamel, David Robertson, David Chan, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Mei-Ann Chen. Her recent performances include a side-by-side concert with the New York Philharmonic, a substitute appearance with the New World Symphony, and principal cello in Juilliard’s 2x4 Kennedy Center collaboration with Jaime Laredo and Jennifer Koh. She serves as Teaching Assistant to Eric Bartlett’s Orchestral Repertoire course at Juilliard.

Deeply committed to music’s role in social engagement, Julia heavily involves herself on community-based projects. She regularly collaborates with Molly Carr’s non profit Project: Music Heals Us, leading workshops and performances through the “Music For The Future” branch. She also has collaborated with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s “Reflections” program, bringing interactive performances to individuals living with Alzheimer’s. In her hometown of Gainesville, Florida, she co-founded the Buchholz High School String Orchestra—the school’s first string program—making music education accessible to underserved students.

Julia earned her Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Darrett Adkins and a Master of Music with the late Joel Krosnick under a C.V. Starr Scholarship. She is grateful to have been previously mentored by Wendy Warner and Chungsun Kim. Other musical inspirations in her life include Laurence Lesser and Frans Helmerson.