YOUNG VIRTUOSI
The most inspiring and interactive music ensemble that connects students to stage opportunities through collaborations with professional musicians in chamber music side by side.
Performing Arts Program for Young Artists
Our Story
Established by Artistic Director Ruda Lee in 2023, Young Virtuosi stands as a groundbreaking force among music training institutions. Grounded in a shared passion for music, the program demands a deep commitment to artistic excellence and personal growth, offering students the invaluable opportunity of weekly rehearsals alongside industry professionals and exceptional peers. Highlighting the program's immediate impact, artists from its inaugural season were selected to perform as soloists with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at a major fundraising concert in February 2024—a monumental debut that instilled the next generation with the confidence to explore new skills and elevate their creativity.
Expanding on this vision, Young Virtuosi recently presented <Chamber Music Across All Generations> concert at Hong Kong Baptist University's Campus of Creativity, beautifully bridging eras and histories through collaborative performance of 32 performers across five generations—from Baby Boomers (born 1946) to Gen Alpha (born 2023) shared the same spotlight. This spirit carries into Young Virtuosi's ongoing community work with various charities to engage in meaningful community service.
Alongside regular recitals and side-by-side concerts, these diverse initiatives provide transformative, real-world experiences that broaden the perspectives of young artists and play a crucial role in shaping the future of classical music.
RUDA LEE
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Praised for her commanding presence as a versatile soloist and the vision of a global producer, Ruda Lee drives major projects across Asia, the United States, and Europe, earning critical acclaim for her distinctive artistic vision.
This journey began at age six, when she made her concerto debut as the youngest winner of the World Symphony Orchestra Competition. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Ruda Lee later received the Seoul President’s Award for her first composer-performer project at age twelve. Following her early triumphs, she swept top prizes at major competitions including the Strad Magazine Award, Music Journal, KCO, Korea Mozart, Music Education Newspaper, and Young Soloist Competitions. In 2014, she made her debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, followed by a performance at the 2015 J.F.Kennedy Center Honors Gala alongside Yo-Yo Ma, attended by President Obama and broadcast nationally in the United States.
A full scholarship recipient at Yale University School of Music, Ruda served as Co-Concertmaster of the Yale Philharmonia and toured with John Adams at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. She has appeared under the baton of conductors such as Valery Gergiev, krzysztof Penderecki, and Andris Nelson. Ruda has appeared at leading festivals worldwide including Tanglewood, Kronberg, Norfolk, PyeongChang, Russia, Taipei, Singapore, and Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival-Beare’s Premiere and Arts Festival. In 2023, she garnered great acclaim at the Vivaldi Festival in Venice for performing all four of Vivaldi’s concertos in a single program.
Alongside her career as a globally active soloist and chamber musician, Ruda has created and led numerous innovative programs as artistic director and producer. Following two sold-out concerts in Hong Kong, she presented her government-supported landmark project, Four Seasons: A Journey of 1725-2025, at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in November 2025. Featuring two world premieres, she appeared as a soloist to standing ovations and critical acclaim. Building on this success, she is set to expand the project worldwide in 2027 under the title Global Seasons: A Journey Beyond 1725, bringing her vision to major stages in Los Angeles, Hungary, Iceland, and across Asia.
Her recent album My Home (2025) stands as a powerful testament to how music conveys deeply personal memories and identity, connecting performer and listener across space and time. Beyond the stage, Ruda Lee actively shapes the future of the industry. She serves as Artistic Director of Virtuoso Fiesta, Young Virtuosi, and the Hong Kong- Danube Arts Festival (HKDAF). Through these platforms, she reimagines classical programming for contemporary audiences, mentors the next generation, and continues her mission to bridge cultures around the world through music.
