South Korea-born pianist Kowoon Lee, now based in the USA, made her concerto debut at the age of 16 with the Chungnam Symphony Orchestra. Since then, Dr. Lee has performed internationally across the United States, South Korea, Puerto Rico, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Her notable collaborations include appearances with the Seoul National University Orchestra, Romanian Banatul Timișoara Philharmonic Orchestra, Sookmyung Festival Orchestra, Janacek Concert Chamber Orchestra, UMKC Conservatory Orchestra, and Kansas City Ballet.

Dr. Lee is renowned for her specialization in music by women composers. Her doctoral research focused on piano works by women composers, resulting in original research and a recording that has been showcased at numerous international festivals and conferences. Her lecture-recitals include titles such as “21st Century Music for Solo Piano by Living East Asian Women Composers,” “Finding Their Own Voices: Piano Etudes by Women Composers in the 21st Century,” “Visual and Aural Connections: Character Pieces for Trumpet and Piano by Living Women Composers,” “Homeland: Celebrating Women’s Voices and Heritages Throughout 21st Century Music for Flute and Piano,” and “Arari: The Most Korean-esque Folk Song.” These have been presented at esteemed events like the College Music Society Conferences, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, SHE Festival of Women In Music, Women in Music Festival, International Alliance for Women in Music, International Women’s Brass Conference, Asian Classical Music Initiative, Korean Composers Festival, and the World Piano Conference.

As a champion of new music, Dr. Lee has collaborated with renowned contemporary composers including Chen Yi, James Mobberley, Gabriela Ortiz, Juri Seo, Vera Ivanova, and Karen Tanaka. She has premiered numerous solo and chamber works, such as “It’s in the Simple Things” for flute and piano by Hannah E. Adhikari at the 2023 Music by Women Festival, selections from “The Voice Imitator” for solo piano by Yotam Haber at the 2022 Missouri Music Teachers Association State Conference, “aɪ Kænt Spiːk” for violin, cello, and piano by Aubrie Powell at the 2017 Society of Composers, Inc. national conference, and “Chi Bedda Vuci Avia II” for clarinet, piano, soprano, and cello, which won 2nd prize at the 2016 UMKC Chamber Music Composition Competition.

Dr. Lee has also been featured on radio stations in the Kansas City area, including Kansas Public Radio, 91.9 Classical KC, and the KKFI Classical Challenge. Her international prominence was highlighted in an interview on the Every Woman radio show. As an adjudicator, she has served at the Indonesia International Young Musician Award, Marie Guengerich Festival, Hong Kong International Music Talent Online Competition, and numerous MTNA local and state competitions. A founding member of the Puerto Rico Center for Collaborative Piano, Dr. Lee established and led its summer music festival from 2020 to 2023.

Dr. Lee earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, studying under Dr. Thomas Rosenkranz and Dr. Robert Weirich. She completed her Master of Music and Performer’s Diploma at Indiana University with Dr. Karen Shaw. Prior to her studies in the United States, she obtained her Bachelor of Music from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea, with Dr. Hyesoo Jeon, and graduated from Chungnam Arts High School with Jinyi Yang. She has previously taught at Washburn University, Cottey College, and Interlochen Arts Camp. Currently, Dr. Lee is a faculty member at Tennessee State University and is a co-founder and member of the KC Piano Duo.