Degrees
DMA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MA,BA, Seoul National University, KoreaBiography
A Korean-born pianist Sojung Lee Hong has appeared as an active soloist, collaborative pianist, teacher, and church musician since she was appointed as music faculty at Judson University. In the past a couple of years, her notable public appearances range from a solo recital at Seoul Arts Center to a concert tour of sacred music in South Korea, a piano duet recital in New Jersey to a chamber music concert in Mexico. In addition to the international appearance, she has performed a various range of repertoire in the Chicago area. Over a hundred chamber music recitals have been given in the Chicago public libraries and senior residences. She has been also invited to give lecture recitals at the conferences such as the College Music Society Regional Conference (2011), the College Music Society International Conference (2011), and the Conferences of Illinois State Music Teachers Association (2006, 2009). In her home country, she has taught as a guest artist at the Summer Piano Workshop of Suwon Women’s College and at the Eum-youn Summer Piano Academy since 2007. As Director of the Performance Certificate in Music program at Judson University, she has organized the annual scholarship benefit concerts and raised funds to support talented students’ education. For the Chicago Community, she has helped to organize the Seoul National University Alumni benefit concerts, the Sejong Cultural Society benefit concerts and the Sejong Music Competition, and the charity concerts for Global Children Foundation and Food for the Hungry International.
Hong holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seoul National University (magna cum laude) and a doctoral degree in piano performance and literature from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her piano teacher at UIUC was Ian Hobson, and chamber music teachers Peter Schaffer (violin) and Suren Bagratuni (cello). She also pursued accompanying as her minor under the tutelage of the late Eric Dalheim. During her doctoral studies, she won the first prize at the Irene Tintner International Piano Competition and was subsequently invited to perform with the Germania Orchestra in Michigan. She has also performed concertos with Valley Civic Orchestra, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, Judson University Community Orchestra, and Elgin Community College Civic Orchestra. Currently, she is Associate Professor at Judson University and Music Director at West Alliance Church near Wheaton, IL. Her teaching areas at Judson University include applied lessons, class piano, piano literature, pedagogy, and history & practice of worship music.
Awards
President Award, Seoul National University, Korea
President Award (honored as valedictorian), Seoul Arts High School, Korea
Ranked as Excellent Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignProfessional Societies
College Music Society
Music Teachers National Association
Illinois State Music Teachers Association
Phi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa LambdaLife Verse
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
--John 15:5
|