Bongwool Lee

New York-based jazz pianist and composer Bongwool Lee started playing piano at the age of 4. Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Bongwool was exposed from an early age to a wide variety of music by her parents, and was quickly considered a musical prodigy, winning Korea’s acclaimed Samik Competition at age 7. In the years that followed, Bongwool’s focus shifted from Classical music to Jazz music upon hearing Oscar Peterson on the radio. After graduating as a music major at Dongduk Women’s University, Bongwool knew that it was time to move to New York City.

Since moving to New York, Bongwool has found herself at the forefront of NYC’s Jazz music scene, performing frequently at some of the top venues in the city. In 2012, Bongwool earned her Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with the likes of Dave Liebman, John Reilly, Gary Dial, Bobby Sanabria, Phil Markowitz, and many others. In the years that have followed, Bongwool has been regularly performing her own music throughout NYC with her trio and quartet, garnering acclaim from many prominent jazz artists. Jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti describes her music as a “unique blend of strong melodies, rich harmonies, and a beautiful balance of accessible and unpredictable...I truly enjoy hearing her play.”

Bongwool currently has been composing brand new music to be performed throughout the US on tour with her band, with a new album to be released in 2016.