Born in Seoul, South Korea, Ji Youn Lee began playing the piano at the age of six. One year later in 2004, she was admitted to the Music Academy for Gifted Children at the Seoul Arts Center and started to learn music more seriously.
In 2007, Ji Youn won her first competition at the CTS (Christian Television System) Competition and since then, she has been awarded several prizes at prestigious national competitions including the Hankookilbo, Korea Chopin, and Ewha & Kyunghyang Competitions.
Ji Youn also has a strong interest in Chamber Music. She formed a Piano Quintet called “Xapis” (the name originates from ancient Greek, meaning charity) with her classmates in 2011. Soon after, she entered Yewon School (Middle School for Performing Arts).
After winning First Prize at the Seoul Youth Chamber Music Competition, Xapis was selected as the first young chamber group to become Goodwill Artists. They focused on helping Cambodian refugees in 2012. As part of their service and activism, Xapis participated in numerous performances as representatives of Ji Youn’s middle school. Additional achievements of her quintet also include winning the T&B International Artist Competition in 2013. This performance was made available on CD. Furthermore, they were the youngest participants in the International Chamber Music Competition in Osaka, and became semifinalists.
Ji Youn is a junior at the Seoul Arts High School. Currently, she is a student of HaeSun Paik at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Jong Hee Ryu at Hansei University, Korea.
Repertoire
Round I
Beethoven Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Round II
Bach Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G Major, WTC I, BWV 860
Brahms Variations on a theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book II in A minor
Ravel La Valse
Round III
Beethoven Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: I
