Hwayoon Lee

South Korean violist Hwayoon Lee emerged as a promising new figure in the mid-2010s as a member of violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter's handpicked Virtuosi, also making solo appearances with major orchestras. Exceptionally among major Korean classical musicians, her first instruction came, at age three, in the traditional Korean Pansori genre, not in Western music. Lee took up the violin at six, but discovered the viola at nine and switched to that instrument. Lee's path to success was prepared by several important competition victories, which led to festival appearances and concerto performances with a growing list of ensembles. Lee's recording debut came in 2017 on Mutter's Deutsche Grammophon recording of Schubert's "Trout" Quintet, also featuring pianist Daniil Trifonov. ~ James Manheim