Mookie Lee-Menuhin

Powerfully communicated […] this ought to be a record of the year […] this nearly forgotten score has been revived in a sensitive and compassionate performance. The transcendence of the movements is persuasively captured […].

Pianist Mookie Lee-Menuhin has received enthusiastic reviews for her recordings of Shostakovich, Schubert and Schubert-Menuhin from such publications as Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, DSCH Journal, Primephonic and Classical Source.

Born in Seoul, South Korea,MookieLee-Menuhin has performed throughout mainland Europe and in Scandinavia, Great Britain and Asia, both as a soloist and chamber musician. She has appeared in some of the major halls in Europe and Asia, including Geneva’s Victoria Hall, the Tonhalle Zürich and Bern Casino in Switzerland, Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Krakow, Poland, Smetana Hall in Plzeň, Czech Republic, Schloss Elmau (among others) in Germany, Musikhuset and Danish Radio in Denmark and Sejong Hall, Seoul Arts Centre in Seoul, South Korea.

In 2003 Mookie received the prestigious Augustinus Award and the Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra’s International Prize, as well as winning the Yamaha competition in 2002. Mookie Lee-Menuhin has made many radio and television appearances. including for the BBC, DR, DK4 and Radio Swiss Classic. She is often invited to perform at festivals such as the Festival Pablo Casals in Prades, Menuhin Festival Gstaad, Festival de Bellerive, West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Boğaziçi University Foundation, Smetana’s Litomyšl Festival, Felix Mendelssohn Music Days, Grandes Heures de Saint-Emilion and Seoul Spring Festival.

Mookie Lee-Menuhin is also an avid chamber musician, having performed with artists including Alberto Lysy, Gary Hoffman, Piers Lane, Istvan Vardai, and her husband Jeremy Menuhin. She has released a number of CDs, including first recordings of works by Shostakovich and Stravinsky with Alexander Rozhdestvensky and Jeremy Menuhin, in addition to the premieres of Jeremy Menuhin’s compositions for two pianos.

The Menuhin Duo, of which Mookie Lee-Menuhin is 50%, is a dedicated piano duo specializing in the existing repertoire. The Duo has a rare additional role: that of performing Jeremy’s compositions for two pianos, written with the conviction that contemporary music can be beautiful and comprehensible.

In addition to her performing career, Mookie Lee-Menuhin is passionate about bringing classical music to a wider audience, particularly young children. In doing so, she aims to foster greater communication between performers and their audience.

Mookie Lee-Menuhin studied at Chetham’s School of Music and at the Royal Northern College of Music in the UK with Margaret Fingerhut. She obtained a master’s degree as well as a performance diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, and studied with John Damgaard and Ronan O’Hora in London.

Photography: Sarah Deriaz

The artist's homepage:

www.mookieleemenuhin.com