Hyunju Heather Lee

Award winning pianist Hyunju Lee had her debut recital at the Cheongju University Concert Hall in 2001. She was invited to perform on the Faculty Piano Ensemble while still studying at Cheongju University, and continued her studies at the graduate school where she was requested to teach many of the undergraduates and a few of the continuing education classes. In 2003, She performed her solo recital at the Cheongju Performing Arts Center.

Having been offered a faculty position at the university, she stayed in Korea for a few more years, and was invited to play in numerous venues throughout the country such as Chopin Hall, Buam Art Hall and the Daejeon Art Center. Since she has moved to America, Hyunju has appeared as a soloist in The Purchase Piano Festival and The Boston UMC Concert Series. As a collaborative pianist, she has been invited to play for the WSV Institute at Sarah Lawrence, Mannes School of Music vocal studio as well as a numerous choirs including the Shepherd and Westchester County Choir.
Hyunju has won a few competitions throughout her career, such as the Dong-a Ilbo Piano, Kyunghyang Music and Mokwon University Piano competition. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Cheongju University. She received her second master’s and Artist Diploma degree while studying under Professor Stephanie Brown at SUNY Purchase, and furthered her studies at Mannes College of Music under Professor Cristina Stanescu. She has served as an accompanist at SUNY Purchase, Mannes College and the City College of New York. Currently, she is the pianist and organist at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Westchester, Isorimoa children’s choir and continues to teach privately in Westchester County where she resides.

The Piano Ensemble Society was first established while studying together in New York at Purchase College. The group consists of pianists Baekyu Kim, Hyunju Lee, Sohyun Jun and Sehee Chae. As soloists and chamber musicians they have traveled and performed independently all over Asia, Europe, as well as here in the United States. They are very excited to finally come together for the first time and perform back where it all began.

The piano ensembles throughout Europe have managed to produce colorful colors that in the past were solely found in orchestral music. As an ensemble, there are various musical styles and techniques that can expand on the dynamics and sound expression that were limited with only ten fingers. Through experimentation of the standard classical piano repertoire, the Piano Ensemble Society’s purpose is to expand on the limited ensemble base and revitalize the piano performance.

In this performance, they will be playing Dmitri Shostakovich’s Concertino for Two Pianos, Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, Astor Piazzolla's Adios Nonino and Libertango for Two Pianos and Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy for Four Hands.

The Piano Ensemble Society has been invited to perform again in Boston and New Hampshire later this year, and will return to New York in 2018 as they are preparing for their premier concert at Carnegie Hall. They hope to continue to perform and greet many audiences worldwide.

Sohyun Jun

A native of South Korea, pianist Sohyun Jun made her Debut with Shanghai Orchestra in China in 2001. She performed at the Sydney Music Festival in 2002, and at the Piano Summer Festival at New Paltz where Vladimir Feltsman was the Artistic Director in 2005. Ms. Jun has appeared as a collaborative pianist as well as a solo pianist and chamber musician. She performed at SongFest in California where she worked with Graham Johnson, Amy Burton, Kendra Colton, and Jake Heggie in the summer of 2007 and 2008, and in various master classes for such as Margo Garett, Martin Katz, and American Quartet. Ms. Jun was invited as a pianist for Brass Department at Boston University Tanglewood Institute and performed with Professor Eric Rusky in 2014. As a teacher, she has joined a faculty member at Merry Melody Music Academy since 2013 and maintains her own piano studio in Sharon, Massachusetts.

After received her Bachelors Degree in piano performance from Busan National University in Korea, she came to the United States to study with Professor Stephanie Brown at the State University of New York at Purchase College where she earned her master degree and the Artist Diploma in solo piano performance. Ms. Jun received another master degree in collaborative piano and completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree under Professor Sheila Kibbe at Boston University in 2014.

Baekyu Kim

has impressed audiences worldwide with his unique artistry, a blend of commanding technique and gentle musicality.  Praised by the Journal News for his “soulful expression,” he has been invited to perform in chamber recitals and at numerous festivals throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.  In 2002 Dr. Kim received the designated honor of “Young Artist” for solo piano from the Korean Music Journal, and in 2008 he won the Honors Competition at Boston University.  After winning the “Special Presentation Award” from the Artists International Competition, also in 2008, he made his successful Carnegie Hall debut in 2009, performing a program that included the world premiere of “Lutine” by American composer Richard Cornell.  In addition to Weill Recital Hall, he has also performed at Salle Cortot in Paris, Lille, and Strasburg in France, Freiburg and karlsruhe in Germany, the Sejong Art Center and YoungSan Art Center in Seoul, Kangwon University and the Mozart Hall in Korea.  Currently based in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Kim has performed at numerous venues along the American East Coast, including at local concert series in Boston such as the Kleshinsky, Park Avenue Congregational Church, St. Johns Bowdoin St. and Jamaica Plain, as well as performances at the Tanglewood Music Center, Southern New Hampshire University, the Purchase Piano Festival, and in the Dancer in Mocomoco project in New York City.

A dedicated teacher, Dr. Kim is on the piano faculty of both the Dedham School of Music and the Creative Arts School, and in the summers, he teaches at the Youth and Muse international music Festival in Boston.

Dr. Kim earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Chung-ang University, and continued his studies in France at the Ecole Normal de Musique de Paris, where he studied with Micael Wladkowski.  He later earned the diploma, diploma superieur and the perfectionnement diploma from the Conservatoire National de Versailles, studying with Edda Erlendsdottir.  Relocating to the United States, Dr. Kim earned his Master’s Degree at SUNY Purchase, studying with Stephanie Brown, and later his Doctoral Degree at Boston University, where he studied with the late Maria Clodes and Gila Goldstein