Jury

A native of South Korea, Dr. Hyun-Kyung (Kate) Lee has established herself as a distinguished pianist, artistic director, and international juror, acclaimed for her expressive depth and imaginative programming. She has appeared in over forty solo, concerto, and chamber recitals across the United States, Korea, and Europe, performing in major venues including Carnegie Hall and Steinway Hall in New York, and the Seoul Arts Center in Korea. Her European engagements include concerto and recital performances in Italy, Warsaw, Katowice, and other Polish cities, as well as collaborations with orchestras and festivals throughout the region. She has also given performances in Hong Kong.

A versatile artist, Dr. Lee is equally at home in classical and contemporary repertoire. She has premiered numerous works by modern composers, including several by OckMi Han, a French-trained composer with whom she shares a longstanding artistic collaboration. Her performances often bridge disciplines—combining piano, dance, and multimedia to create innovative and immersive concert experiences.

Dr. Lee previously served as Professor of Piano at Kangwon National University and at the Catholic University of Korea, and as Lecturer at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has presented masterclasses across Poland, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Korea, and has been invited as guest faculty by leading institutions such as the Karlowicz Music School in Katowice and the Chopin Music School in Warsaw.

As Founder and Artistic Director of both the Chopin Avenue Music Organization and K Novart Organization, Dr. Lee curates international competitions, festivals, and prodigy series in Europe and Asia. Through these programs, she is devoted to discovering and mentoring exceptional young musicians, guiding prizewinners of major international competitions through masterclasses, concerto collaborations, and artistic residencies. Her visionary leadership continues to shape the next generation of global performers.

Dr. Lee earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Arts in Performance from New York University. Her principal teachers include Miyoko Lotto, Sara Davis Buechner, Marilyn Neeley, Jose Ramos Santana, and Young Sook Kim

Glenn Riddle is an Australian pianist and internationally recognised piano pedagogue, active as a performer, academic, examiner, juror, editor, and author. A graduate of the University of Melbourne and the Royal College of Music, London, with further advanced studies at the University for Music and the Performing Arts in Vienna with Paul Badura-Skoda, he was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee, Horlock, Ian Potter Foundation, and Clark Scholarships, and was a winner of the National Kawai and Yamaha Competitions.

He is currently Senior Lecturer in Keyboard at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Research Associate at the University of Waikato (New Zealand), and Visiting Professor at the Nanjing University of Arts (China). He serves as an Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Federal Examiner and is a member of the AMEB International Examining Panel, and has held senior governance and advisory roles within major music and pedagogy organisations in Australia.

Highly sought after internationally, Glenn Riddle has adjudicated and served on juries for major piano competitions across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and has presented recitals, pedagogy workshops, masterclasses, and examinations throughout these regions. His students are prizewinners in leading international competitions worldwide, reflecting his long-standing influence on high-level piano training and pedagogy.

A prolific contributor to piano education, he has published and edited numerous volumes of piano repertoire and pedagogical works for the Australian Music Examinations Board, co-edited major Baroque keyboard collections, and authored scholarly articles in leading music and psychology journals. As a recording artist, he has released 15 CDs on labels including ABC Classics, Move Records, Tall Poppies, and Hal Leonard, and continues an active career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist.

Inyoung Hwang, a renowned South Korean violinist, boasts an impressive academic background with degrees from Seoul National University, Korea National University of Arts, and Yale School of Music. She is a former member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and is celebrated for her solo and chamber performances across Korea. Hwang is currently a violin instructor at Korea National University of Arts and Pusan National University.