YooBin Lee
Biography
YooBin Lee's first instrument was the violin, which she began playing at age five. During college, she was captivated by the rich timbres of the viola: "I instinctively knew that the viola resonated deeply with my personality, and thus began my journey with this enchanting instrument," she says.
One of her favorite things about making music with Sarasota Orchestra is getting to live and work in Florida weather: "Having spent a decade in the Midwest, I've experienced its cruelty firsthand," she says. "Also, Korea has four seasons (a little bit better than Midwest weather). Now, residing in Sarasota, it's both exhilarating and astonishing to be able to take leisurely walks during winter! I find myself amazed every day."
Get to know YooBin Lee
Hometown: Daejeon, South Korea
First year with Sarasota Orchestra: 2023
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (D.M.A.), University of Michigan (M.M. in chamber music), Bowling Green State University (M.M. in viola performance)
Career Highlights: YooBin was a First Prize winner at the New York Artists International Competition and the Korea Art Music Competition, and she won First Prize as a violinist in the Music Association of Korea's annual youth competition. She was also a national finalist in the Young String Artist Competition by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).
Passions and Interests: Cooking, reading, and bowmaking.
