← Back to Contestants Page

Sanghie Lee
SOUTH KOREA

Sanghie Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and started playing the piano at the age of 5. A musical prodigy, she won the first prize in competition at age 8, and went on to attend Yewon School & Seoul Arts High School. She studied with Prof. Shin at Yonsei University, receiving scholarships and earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music. Moving to the United States for further studies, she first earned her Performer Diploma at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University, under Emile Naoumoff. She then went to the College-Conservatory of Music at Cincinnati to study with Eugene Pridonoff and Elisabeth Pridonoff. Currently, she is a DMA candidate and Artist Diploma, studying with James Tocco under a full scholarship.

Sanghie has won first prize in many competitions, including the Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition in 2015, where she also won a special award for Best Interpretation of an American Composer’s Work. She won second prize at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition in 2014 performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No.1, which she also performed with the University of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2016. She has been invited to the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Bonn, Piano FVG Competition in Italy, World Piano Competition, and San Jose International Competition. In Korea, Sanghie also won numerous first prizes at major competitions such as the Beethoven Piano Competition of Korea, Haneum Piano Competition, and Korea Piano Duo Association Competition.

An active chamber musician, Sanghie is a member of the piano trio Canorus, which won second prize at the 2017 OSTA (Ohio String Teachers Association) Chamber Music Competition; the trio has also won first prize at the 2016 CCM Chamber Competition by the Ariel quartet and second prize in 2015. With other chamber groups, she has performed over 50 chamber recitals since 2013 in the Cincinnati area. At the Korea Piano Duo Association competition in Seoul, she won the Grand Prize for her piano duo recital performance.

Also in Seoul, Sanghie has been invited to perform at the Young Artist Musician’s Festival by Eumyoun, New Rising Star Debut Recital, and Young Artist Piano Recital. She performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 with the Yonsei University Symphony Orchestra as the winner of the school’s 2009 Concerto Competition.

Sanghie has participated many music festivals, including Art of Piano at CCM; she was chosen to participate in the 2016 Gilmore Piano Festival as a top piano student in the College-Conservatory of Music, where she performed in a master class with Yefim Bronfman. She has also performed in master classes with Paul Schenly, Bruno Rigutto, Hie-Yon Choi, Yoshikazu Nagai, Kate Soyeon Lee, Dror Biran, Michael Chertock, and Ning An.

Program

RECITAL ROUND
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3
I. Presto
II. Largo e mesto
III. Minuet. Allegro
IV. Rondo. Allegro

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17
I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen
II. Mässig. Durchaus energisch.
III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten.

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Gaspard de la nuit, I. Ondine

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Moment Musicaux, Op. 16 No. 3 in B Minor
Moment Musicaux, Op. 16 No. 4 in E Minor

SCHUBERT ROUND
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) Sonata in C Minor, D. 958
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Minuetto. Allegro – Trio
IV. Allegro

CHAMBER MUSIC ROUND
Robert Muczynski (1929-2010) Sonata No. 3 Op. 35
I. Allegro graciozo
II. Andante sostenuto – Allegro subito

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Etude Op. 10 No. 8

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Gaspard de la nuit
III. Scarbo

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49
I. Molto allegro ed agitato
II. Andante con moto tranquillo
III. Scherzo. Leggiero e vivace
IV. Finale. Allegro assai appassionato

CONCERTO
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30
I. Allegro ma non tanto
II. Intermezzo: Adagio
III. Finale: Alla breve