Korean-born violist Dr. Donghee Han is established for her captivating performances, marked by emotional depth and sensitivity. With a passion for both performance and pedagogy, she has garnered acclaim for her enthusiastic dedication to music.
Ms. Han, a versatile performer in solo, chamber, and orchestral music, has graced stages across the globe, captivating audiences in the United States, South Korea, China, Japan, and New Zealand. Her talent has been recognized by prestigious music festivals, including the Round Top Music Festival, Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, Miami Music Festival, DECODA Chamber Music Festival, Green Lake Chamber Music Institute, and American Gothic Performing Arts.
Ms. Han’s dedication to orchestral music has led her to collaborate with internationally renowned conductors such as Carl St. Clair, Charles Olivieri-Munroe, Vladmir Kulenovic, and Linus Lerner. She has also worked with distinguished musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Cho-Liang Lin, Almita Vamos, Timothy Gill, and Wolfgang David, as well as numerous ensembles like the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cavani Quartet, and Red Cedar Chamber Music. She received artistic inspirations through the masterclasses with fabulous violists such as Misha Amory, Helen Callus, Charles Pikler, and Nokuthula Nawenyama.
Specializing in collaboration with composers, Han has worked closely with esteemed living composers including Michael Kimber (US), Han-Ki Kim (Korea), and James Whitbourn (UK). She premiered Kimber’s works for the viola, Han-Ki Kim’s Kankangsule with Korean folk tune, Zack Stanton’s Mourning Vignettes, and other new works in her solo recitals, ensemble concerts, and workshops. She also participated in the recording of James Whitbourn’s The Voices Stilled and Canticle of Mary / Canticle of Simeon for choir and chamber ensemble.
In 2022, Donghee was honored to perform the Emerging Artists Recital at the American Viola Society Festival and the 47th International Viola Congress at Columbus University in Georgia, premiering Kimber’s two new works, 2020 and Quest for Solo Viola, dedicated to her. As a devotee of Michael Kimber’s music, Dr. Han’s thesis and recording project include Kimber’s five works for solo viola and a duet piece, showcasing her commitment to expanding the viola’s repertoire. She has actively performed Kimber’s chamber music with various accomplished musicians and ensembles.
Han holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea. She served as a full-time violist in the Cheon-an Philharmonic Orchestra and was a founding member and Music Director of the H Music Society, leading both the H String Quartet and H String Ensemble. Continuing a new chapter of her musical career in the US, she pursued Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate degrees at Northern Illinois University, studying under Anthony Devroye and the Avalon String Quartet, where she earned great honors, winning the 2016 NIU Concerto Competition and the 2015 NIU Chamber Ensemble Competition.
Her musical journey culminated in a Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, under the mentorship of professor Christine Rutledge. She also studied Conducting as a secondary area with David E. Becker. During her D.M.A., Han distinguished herself as a Teaching Assistant in the UI Viola Studio and a Research Assistant at the UI Center for New Music, where she developed a fascination for contemporary music. She also served as an Assistant to the Director, Elizabeth Oakes, in the UI String Quartet Residency and Chamber Music Residency Programs, working with renowned string quartets such as the Brentano, Jupiter, Miro, JACK, Daedalus, Parker, Jasper, Castalian, Dalí, Apple Hill String Quartets, and more.
Passionate as a teaching artist, Dr. Han is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians. She has served as a viola faculty member at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan and maintains a thriving private studio. Committed to outreach, she has worked with organizations affiliated with the El Sistema USA such as Harmony School of Music and Fox Valley El Sistema. She was also invited to participate in the 2023 YOLA National Accelerator hosted by LA Phil in Los Angeles. Recognized for her contributions to music education, she was invited to the 2024 Sphinx Connect: Amplify as a Fellow, 2021 Sphinx Connect: Unity, 2021 Chamber Music America’s Power and Privilege: Equality in the Arts, and the 2019 American String Teachers Association National Conferences.
Dr. Han’s multifaceted career continues to inspire audiences and aspiring musicians alike, as she remains dedicated to artistic excellence and education.
Ms. Han, a versatile performer in solo, chamber, and orchestral music, has graced stages across the globe, captivating audiences in the United States, South Korea, China, Japan, and New Zealand. Her talent has been recognized by prestigious music festivals, including the Round Top Music Festival, Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, Miami Music Festival, DECODA Chamber Music Festival, Green Lake Chamber Music Institute, and American Gothic Performing Arts.
Ms. Han’s dedication to orchestral music has led her to collaborate with internationally renowned conductors such as Carl St. Clair, Charles Olivieri-Munroe, Vladmir Kulenovic, and Linus Lerner. She has also worked with distinguished musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Cho-Liang Lin, Almita Vamos, Timothy Gill, and Wolfgang David, as well as numerous ensembles like the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cavani Quartet, and Red Cedar Chamber Music. She received artistic inspirations through the masterclasses with fabulous violists such as Misha Amory, Helen Callus, Charles Pikler, and Nokuthula Nawenyama.
Specializing in collaboration with composers, Han has worked closely with esteemed living composers including Michael Kimber (US), Han-Ki Kim (Korea), and James Whitbourn (UK). She premiered Kimber’s works for the viola, Han-Ki Kim’s Kankangsule with Korean folk tune, Zack Stanton’s Mourning Vignettes, and other new works in her solo recitals, ensemble concerts, and workshops. She also participated in the recording of James Whitbourn’s The Voices Stilled and Canticle of Mary / Canticle of Simeon for choir and chamber ensemble.
In 2022, Donghee was honored to perform the Emerging Artists Recital at the American Viola Society Festival and the 47th International Viola Congress at Columbus University in Georgia, premiering Kimber’s two new works, 2020 and Quest for Solo Viola, dedicated to her. As a devotee of Michael Kimber’s music, Dr. Han’s thesis and recording project include Kimber’s five works for solo viola and a duet piece, showcasing her commitment to expanding the viola’s repertoire. She has actively performed Kimber’s chamber music with various accomplished musicians and ensembles.
Han holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea. She served as a full-time violist in the Cheon-an Philharmonic Orchestra and was a founding member and Music Director of the H Music Society, leading both the H String Quartet and H String Ensemble. Continuing a new chapter of her musical career in the US, she pursued Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate degrees at Northern Illinois University, studying under Anthony Devroye and the Avalon String Quartet, where she earned great honors, winning the 2016 NIU Concerto Competition and the 2015 NIU Chamber Ensemble Competition.
Her musical journey culminated in a Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, under the mentorship of professor Christine Rutledge. She also studied Conducting as a secondary area with David E. Becker. During her D.M.A., Han distinguished herself as a Teaching Assistant in the UI Viola Studio and a Research Assistant at the UI Center for New Music, where she developed a fascination for contemporary music. She also served as an Assistant to the Director, Elizabeth Oakes, in the UI String Quartet Residency and Chamber Music Residency Programs, working with renowned string quartets such as the Brentano, Jupiter, Miro, JACK, Daedalus, Parker, Jasper, Castalian, Dalí, Apple Hill String Quartets, and more.
Passionate as a teaching artist, Dr. Han is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians. She has served as a viola faculty member at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan and maintains a thriving private studio. Committed to outreach, she has worked with organizations affiliated with the El Sistema USA such as Harmony School of Music and Fox Valley El Sistema. She was also invited to participate in the 2023 YOLA National Accelerator hosted by LA Phil in Los Angeles. Recognized for her contributions to music education, she was invited to the 2024 Sphinx Connect: Amplify as a Fellow, 2021 Sphinx Connect: Unity, 2021 Chamber Music America’s Power and Privilege: Equality in the Arts, and the 2019 American String Teachers Association National Conferences.
Dr. Han’s multifaceted career continues to inspire audiences and aspiring musicians alike, as she remains dedicated to artistic excellence and education.