Lina (YooMin) Lee, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Piano | Chair of Piano Performance & Literature Studies
Pianist | Educator | Interdisciplinary Artist
Hailed for her “captivating and insightful expressionist style” (New York Concert Review) and her "technically superb and emotionally compelling" performances, pianist Lina (YooMin) Lee, D.M.A., is a dynamic soloist, chamber musician, educator, and interdisciplinary collaborator. She is deeply committed to expanding the traditional boundaries of classical music through multi-sensory performances, diverse programming, and cross-disciplinary partnerships. Her most recent interdisciplinary project, When Music Moves and Speaks—a collaboration between dancers, poets, and musicians—received widespread recognition and acclaim not only across Wisconsin and Minnesota but also from broader regional audiences.
Dr. Lee has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, and The Schubert Club. Her performances have been broadcast on WFMT, WQXR, WORT, Medici.tv, and other international platforms. Her solo recital Music by Women at Carnegie Hall was praised for its exquisite interpretation and pianistic virtuosity. Her digital solo album, Memories, featuring works by renowned composers such as Beethoven, Liszt, and Prokofiev, received critical acclaim from both New York Concert Review and MBN, a major broadcasting network in South Korea.
A vivid and sought-after collaborative pianist, Dr. Lee has performed extensively with internationally renowned singers and instrumentalists. She has collaborated with members of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, and actively engages in interdisciplinary projects that blend music with visual art, spoken word, and technology. Her commitment to creative and diverse collaboration has led her to participate in major festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Stanford Summer Seminar, where she worked with esteemed musicians including Joaquin Valdepeñas, Donald Weilerstein, Hamish Milne, Hung-Kuan Chen, Julian Martin, Anne Epperson, and Virginia Weckstrom.
In the 2024–2025 season, Dr. Lee brought a wide range of solo and collaborative programs to audiences across the country. She toured with singer Jennifer Lien, premiering and performing three commissioned song cycles by Asian American composers—Justine F. Chen, Melissa Dunphy, and Kamala Sankaram—each set to Asian American texts and narratives reflecting lived experiences in the United States. She also presented a compelling ensemble program as part of a quartet featuring two pianos and two percussionists and gave solo recitals in multiple U.S. states.
Dr. Lee is also one half of the Kaju & Lina Duo, known for curating and performing imaginative programs that highlight exciting and innovative contemporary repertoire for piano duo. Together, they have introduced diverse and engaging works to a wide range of audiences.
As a passionate advocate for equity in the arts, Dr. Lee champions works by living composers and those from underrepresented and historically marginalized communities. She is the founder and former artistic director of the DEIB Festival in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2025, she was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center to support inclusive initiatives in classical music. That same summer, she recorded a piano concerto by Haitian composer Justin Elie, further amplifying diverse musical voices—this recording is slated for release soon.
Deeply committed to community outreach and education, Dr. Lee is involved with Love in Music, a non-profit offering free classical music instruction to children from underserved communities. She regularly provides piano instruction and performances for underserved populations and children with disabilities.
An engaging presenter and educator, Dr. Lee has been invited to present at international conferences including the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP). Her interdisciplinary, multi-sensory approach has led to lectures, masterclasses, and workshops at institutions such as Stanford University, University of Chicago, University of Kansas, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Seoul National University, and many others.
Dr. Lee’s educational background includes studies at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School, and degrees from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (B.M., M.M.) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (D.M.A.), where she received the Jeanette Ross Award. In Fall 2025, she will join Wright State University as Assistant Professor of Piano and Chair of Piano Performance and Literature Studies. Her previous teaching appointments include the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University.
In all aspects of her work, Dr. Lina (Yoo Min) Lee embraces music as a powerful medium for storytelling, community engagement, and reimagining the role of the piano in a new era.
