Claire Soyun Lee

Claire Soyun Lee is a 12-year-old violinist currently studying under the guidance of Sheryl Staples at the Juilliard Pre-College program. She is the winner of the 2025 New Jersey MTNA Junior String Competition and most recently received first prize in her division and bronze prize overall at the Bellagrande International Music Competition. She has also received awards from various other competitions in the U.S. and Korea, including the Camerata Artists International Competition and Young Soloists Competition. Born in Texas, Claire began playing the violin at age four in California. Her studies continued in Seoul, Korea, where she studied with Sunny Lee and attended masterclasses with Peter Schumayer and Sebastian Müller. She relocated to New Jersey in 2024 to pursue her studies at Juilliard Pre-College. Beyond music, Claireenjoys reading, drawing, and spending time with her dog, Vanilla.