Nippon Music Foundation Loans Guarneri del Gesù "Muntz" Violin to Youjin Lee

The Foundation loans its collection of fine instruments to outstanding string soloists under the age of 35

Since 1994, the Tokyo-based Nippon Music Foundation has been loaning its collection of 21 Stradivarius and Guarneri violins to notable string soloists who are under the age of 35, as part of its Instrument Loan Project.

The Foundation recently announced that violinist Youjin Lee will be loaned the Guarneri del Gesù "Muntz" violin of 1736. This is a Category C loan, which means that it is for a specific project — such as a recording project, competition, or special concert of some kind.

Hailing originally from South Korea, Lee is presently a student of Boris Kushnir at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. In 2023, she received Second Prize at the Munetsugu Angel Violin Competition in Nagoya as well as at the Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition in Long Island.

Previously, Lee has won the Stulberg International String Competition, the Klein Competition, and the Washington International String Competition, as well as being a laureate of the Seoul International Violin Competition and the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition.

Lee has appeared as a soloist with the Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra, the NDR Radiophilharmonie, the Baltimore and the San Jose Chamber Orchestras, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Cruz Symphony, the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Guarneri del Gesù "Muntz" violin has been owned by a number of collectors, notably Mr H. M. Muntz of Birmingham, England. The Foundation acquired the violin in March 1995.