Claire Yuyeon Lee
Concert Pianist | Piano Instructor | Staff Pianist
Dr. Claire Yuyeon Lee is an accomplished collaborative and solo pianist currently serving as a Staff Pianist at the New England Conservatory, where she performs for instrumental and vocal workshops and recitals. For the 2026–2027 academic year, she will join the Boston University College of Fine Arts as a string staff pianist. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Piano Performance from Boston University College of Fine Arts, following a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Sookmyung Women’s University.
Dr. Lee has demonstrated exceptional skill on the competitive stage, highlighted by her Top Prize at the Eumag Chunchu Piano Competition in South Korea. Her competitive successes include winning the 2023 Carnegie Competition, which led to a performance at Carnegie’s Weill Hall in New York City, and securing First Place at the Richmond Piano Competition, resulting in a featured recital at the Tsai Performance Center. She also won the Soloists’ Competition at Boston University and holds top prizes from the Ye-Jeon International Music Piano Competition and the Citiphilharmoni Orchestra Music Concours.
As an active performer, she was featured in the Boston University Carnegie Hall Spotlight Concert in 2024 and performed Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Boston University Symphony Orchestra in 2022. Her orchestral experience includes appearances with the Kammersinfonie Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra and the Daegu MBC Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she served as the orchestral pianist for Ned Rorem’s opera Our Town with the Boston University Chorus and Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to her performance career, Dr. Lee is a dedicated educator. She has served on the piano faculty at the South Shore Conservatory, where she taught private lessons and coached students for annual recitals. Furthermore, as a Teaching Assistant at Boston University, she provided group piano classes and private instruction to undergraduate and graduate students.
Teaching Philosophy
For me, teaching piano is about far more than technique. I believe that focus and concentration are the foundation every young musician needs, and I work patiently with each student to develop these skills so that steady, lasting growth can take place. Rather than simply telling students what to do, I like to share musical ideas along with the reasoning behind them. I want my students to understand why a phrase breathes a certain way or why a passage calls for a particular touch, so that they can gradually become thoughtful musicians who are able to trust their own musical judgment.
I also place great value on helping students build the confidence to set goals and experience the satisfaction of achieving them—whether that means mastering a new piece, performing in front of an audience for the first time, or preparing for a competition. I am particularly committed to providing meaningful performance opportunities for my students and guiding them through the preparation for recitals and competitions with the same care and attention that I bring to my own performances.
Beyond performance skills, I incorporate music history and theory into my lessons whenever appropriate. I want my students to develop a deeper understanding of the music they play rather than simply learning notes in isolation. Just as important to me is the relationship I build with each student. I strive to create a warm and encouraging environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, supported in their challenges, and genuinely excited to grow as musicians.
Whether you are a parent looking for a nurturing first teacher, a student preparing for your next competition, or a fellow musician interested in collaborating, I would be happy to connect.