Clara Lee

Instrument(s)

Piano

Program(s)

Private Lessons

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Clara YunJoo Lee began her piano studies at the age of six. Early in her musical journey, she earned top prizes in prestigious competitions, including The Korea Times, Donga Music, Music Journal, and Suri Music Concours. After attending the esteemed Yewon School of the Arts in Seoul, she moved to the United States in 2006 to continue her education.

As an active performer, Clara has been recognized by numerous organizations, receiving scholarships from the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation, the Leni Fe Bland Foundation, and the Santa Barbara Music Club in California. As one of six finalists in the Young Pianist’s Beethoven Competition in San Jose, she was invited to perform at the 7th Annual Beethovenfest at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. She also appeared as a guest artist at Henderson State University in Arkansas in 2013. Clara participated in Cassalmaggiore Music Festival in Italy and performed in masterclasses with distinguished pianists such as Jonathan Biss, Wu Han, Ting Zhou, and Ory Shihor.

Clara holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, both earned with scholarships. Her primary mentors include Yoonju Oh, Hee-Kyung Juhn, Paul Berkowitz, Sedmara Rutstein, Monique Duphil, and Yoshi Nagai.

In 2020, Clara’s love for chamber music and traveling led her to a world tour as a pianist for Lincoln Center Stage, a collaboration between Lincoln Center and Holland America Cruise Line that brought nightly chamber music performances to audiences aboard the cruise ships. Recently, she expanded her focus to cello and piano repertoire, touring as a classical duo with her husband, cellist Jorge Maresch, as resident performers for Holland America Cruise Line. Clara is a rostered artist with RWS Entertainment Group, based in New York City and London.

Now based in Henderson, Nevada, as a dedicated educator, she is now a faculty member at the Nevada School of the Arts. She also performs regularly as a collaborative pianist by accompanying and collaborating with musicians in Las Vegas. Aside from music, Clara appreciates simple things, such as a delicious homemade iced latte and quiet time in nature.