Cindy Jihyun Lee

Pianist, Artistic Director, Educator

“Remarkable young pianist”, as hailed by the Korean Music Magazine, Pianist Cindy Lee studied piano and composition through Sunhwa Arts Middle/High School, Yonsei University, and Manhattan School of Music. She received her Master’s degree in Accompanying Piano from Manhattan School of Music, where she received scholarship and Dean’s Award. Her primary teachers include John Forconi, Chair of Collaborative Piano program at Manhattan School of Music and Dr. Paul Kim, professor at the Long Island University.

Cindy Lee won the Korean New Daily Competition at the age of nine. She has performed at prestigious concert halls in the US and Korea, including the Carnegie Hall, KBS Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center. She performed as a soloist with Prime Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008 and with INSIEM Philharmonic Orchestra in 2011. In addition to her career as a solo pianist, she has served as a staff accompanying pianist at Manhattan School of Music, University of Las Vegas Nevada, and as a chief pianist at Seoul Grand Opera Company and Seoul Grand Choir.

Cindy has taught piano performance, collaborative piano, and music theory at Myungji Conservatory, Mokwon University, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, and Sunhwa Arts Middle/High School. She was also an accompanying faculty/staff at Kyungwon University, Manhattan School of Music and UNLV. She wrote a college textbook, Accompanying Literature for Pianists. As a music columnist, she wrote weekly columns for the Las Vegas Korea Times for many years.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of the concert series “Music of Women Composers.” She works with local theaters and performing art centers to create various concert series throughout the year. She also performs Lee Sisters’ duo piano concert series with Yoon Lee (Juilliard staff pianist and piano faculty at SUNY Purchase College).

She currently serves as the Director of Piano Studies at Nevada School of the Arts. She is actively involved in various other important music festivals and competitions around the state as a teacher and judge. Cindy Lee received the Excellence of Teaching Award from Piano League and AADGT International Young Musicians Competition, and the Teacher of the Month Award from Charleston International Music Competition. Cindy also has many students under tutelage, winning many domestic and international music competitions.

Cindy Lee currently serves as a Chairperson of Roger Bushell Scholarship Competition and served as a Co-Chairperson of Silver State Competition. She also serves as a board member of Las Vegas Music Teachers Association, and the LVMTA Teacher Recital Chairperson.