Sungil Lee

Sungil Lee, a violin soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician, has won worldwide notoriety.

Lee, a winner of the Paganini International, Washington International, and Bach International Violin Competitions, as well as the Orange County Young Musicians Competition, has performed as a soloist with various orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, Charlotte Symphony, and Grand Rapids Symphony.

Lee has worked as Concertmaster, Co-Concertmaster, and Assistant Concertmaster for the Pittsburgh Symphony (Lorin Maazel), Rochester Philharmonic (David Zinman), Grand Rapids Symphony, and Charlotte Symphony. He has also performed as a guest concertmaster for NDR in Hamburg, Germany, and the St. Louis Symphony, as well as touring Europe with the American Sinfonietta in 2001, led by Michael Palmer.

Hiroshi Hashimoto

He began studying the violin at the age of three and the piano at four. At eleven, he won First Prize at the All Japan Student Music Competition with a unanimous decision, achieving the top national ranking. After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts High School, he went on to complete his studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts. During his university years, he received the Osaka Governor’s Award and won the Settsu Music Festival Competition with unanimous acclaim. He also studied conducting as part of his academic training.

Following his graduation, he pursued further artistic development at The Juilliard School under the renowned teacher Dorothy DeLay. During his time abroad, he performed in concerts throughout Europe and North America. After returning to Japan, he continued an active career as a soloist and chamber musician, appearing with orchestras and giving recitals. His 2007 recital in Vienna was highly praised, and in 2009 he gave six concerts across Europe, including Vienna, all of which were met with enthusiastic acclaim.

In 2018, he performed a highly successful recital at Carnegie Hall in New York. A New York newspaper praised his performance, describing it as “an extraordinary display of virtuosity and dynamic expression that instantly captivated the audience, with a powerful tone filled with passion beneath its gentle melodies.” That same year, he became only the second violinist in Japan to present a complete recital of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin at JT Art Hall. In December, he premiered Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons in a world-first collaboration with the traditional Japanese koto, marking another milestone in his remarkable artistic activities.

In September 2020, he released a complete two-CD recording of J.S. Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. In addition to his performance career, he currently serves as a jury member for several major competitions, including the Japan Classical Music Competition National Finals, the All Japan Junior Classical Music Competition, and the Design K International Competition.

Shinya Abe

Shinya Abe is a violist, violinist, and conductor with an international career spanning Japan, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. After completing his studies in violin and viola at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he relocated to Dresden, where he further developed his work as an orchestral musician and conductor. In 2006, he received a prize at the 1st Córdoba International Conducting Competition, marking an important milestone in his conducting career. Abe has served as Professor and Music Director at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Bethlehem and has collaborated with orchestras and music festivals worldwide. He is widely recognized for his artistry, leadership, and commitment to music education and cross-cultural exchange. The viola he performs on is a distinguished instrument formerly used by the late Akio Akahoshi, former Principal Viola of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and director of Harajuku Acosta Studio.
The 1665 Jacob Stainer viola was entrusted to him with the cooperation of Reiko Ito, Director of Atelier de Mari.

Yena Kim

 Kim Yena is a distinguished classical musician who graduated from Yewon Middle School and Seoul Arts High School and earned her Bachelor of Music, graduating with distinction in performance, from the Korea National University of Arts. As concertmaster of the KNUA Symphony Orchestra for its 74th regular concert, she has captivated audiences at major festivals including the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMP), Heyri International Music Festival, Pohang International Music Festival, Music Alp Summer Festival, and Busan International Music Festival. A decorated competitor, Kim has won first prizes at the Seonhwa and Hanye music competitions, the National Music Competition hosted by the Korea Cultural Arts Management Association, and the Mozart International Concours in Korea, in addition to a second prize at the Yejeon International Music Competition and prizewinning honors at the Nanpa Music Competition. She currently leads the Onyx Quartet, performs with the Erato Ensemble, and appears as a guest musician with the Ditto Orchestra.

Claire Ju

Claire Ju, a dedicated eduactor and a professional violinist. She performs globally in Korea and in America with a variety of groups. She has performed the Bruch violin concerto with Bulgaria Pazardijik Symphony Orchestra, served as concertmaster and principle of the CCM orchestra, and a former concertmaster from the North Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She is extensively focusing on music education for the younger generation.