Biography
Haerim Elizabeth Lee is a Korean violinist with captivating artistry and musical leadership.
Elizabeth began her first solo debut with orchestra at nine years old. She continued her stellar career as a guest soloist with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Symphony of the Mountains, New Amsterdam Symphony, Chelsea Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica de la Unal, Seoul Virtuosi, Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Olimpia and Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinu. In 2015, Elizabeth performed as the Concertmaster with Yo-Yo Ma at the Kennedy Center Honors concert in Washington, D.C., to recognize Maestro Seiji Ozawa in front of U.S. leaders such as former President Obama.
Elizabeth’s playing style indicates her personality: passionate, deliberate, and often witty.
She captivates audiences by “leaving them breathless with impeccable phrasing and relevant musicality.” As a performing artist and scholar, Elizabeth established herself as a musical-cultural visionary. She became the first recipient of the Tariso Young Artist Grant as the Artistic Director of MoKo Musik for promoting and commissioning new Korean music. She is also the Co-founder of Texas Chamber Music Institute and a Violin Professor at Texas Christian University. As a part of Evita String Quartet, she received Bronze Medal Award from the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Elizabeth mentors the faculty at an El-Sistema-inspired program and the Harmony Program in New York.
Elizabeth’s musical career crosses many paths and places. Her most cherished experiences have been collaborating with world-renowned artists such as Robert McDuffie, Stephan Picard, Barry Shiffman, David Halen, Christopher Rex, and Todd Palmer. She has performed in numerous music festivals such as Prussia Cove International Music Seminar, Banff Centre, Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, Heifetz International Music Festival, Spoleto Music Festival USA, Schleswig-Holestein Musik Festival, and Sarasota Music Festival.
Elizabeth carries a progressive philosophy to explore and premier new works.
She worked with composer Thomas Adès and performed the Canadian premiere of Bright Sheng’s piano quintet at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Elizabeth recorded the premiere recordings of pieces by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Michael Daugherty, and performed the North American premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Double Bind?. Her deep-rooted love for collaboration resulted in innovative relationships with unconventional art forms, such as exhibits with the Boston Architecture School, New York Fashion Show, and professional dancers.
Elizabeth immigrated from Daejeon, South Korea when she was eight years old to pursue a scholarship in music at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from New England Conservatory, her Master in Music degree from Rice University Shepherd School of Music, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan. During her doctoral studies, Elizabeth was inspired by her experiences abroad at the Paris Conservatoire and had a more profound passion for French culture, musical history, and food.
Elizabeth’s debut album, “My Time is Now,” is the first-ever recording to feature George Gershwin’s recently restored Steinway piano from his New York apartment.