Biography

Dr. Clara Haneul Yoon is a violinist, educator, and researcher whose work bridges performance, pedagogy, and scholarship, with a strong focus on equity in music education and community engagement. Recognized for her artistic versatility, her performances have been celebrated in publications such as New York Magazine as “Extraordinary technique… she can do anything she wants,” and by Seoul Culture & Arts Magazine as “Truly virtuosic, with amazing mastery of tone.” Trained at the Juilliard School and Columbia University, her research examines how cultural perceptions and social contexts shape artistic value, particularly stereotypes and genre hierarchies in music. Her contributions have been recognized by organizations such as the NAMM Foundation, which awarded her the 2022 President’s Innovation Award for advancing accessible music education initiatives. A dynamic performer and sought-after strings clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Yoon regularly appears as a guest artist and lecturer at institutions and festivals across North America and Asia. She has collaborated with the Juilliard School, Columbia University, Princeton University, the University of Toronto, Western University, and the Royal Conservatory of Music, working closely with students and faculty to foster the development of emerging musicians and educators. Dr. Yoon is also the founder of "Saloon Yoon: A Lecture-Concert Series." Launched in 2022, Saloon Yoon series brings classical music directly into everyday community spaces, reaching various neighborhoods throughout New York, Toronto, and South Korea. The series was first created to counter the traditional barriers often associated with classical music, ranging from highly formal venues, cost, and unfamiliar conventions, by placing music where people already gather and by presenting it with clarity, warmth, and most importantly, context. Each program weaves together performance, storytelling, and conversation, giving audiences a chance to encounter classical works in a setting that is warm and welcoming.