BIOGRAPHY
Korean-Canadian cellist Joanne Yesol Choi, named one of CBC's 2022 30 Under 30 Canadian Musicians, is a distinguished artist in the classical music world. As an avid chamber musician and founding member of the Dior Quartet, she has played a pivotal role in the ensemble's success. The Dior Quartet was the Quartet-in-Residence at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music from 2021-2024. They won the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, earning artist management. Joanne has toured with the group extensively, competing in major international chamber music competitions such as Banff, Melbourne, Bartok International String Quartet Competitions, and performing in prestigious stages across North America, Europe, and Oceania. Notable engagements include the Banff International String Quartet Festival, Carnegie Hall, SLSQ Residency at Stanford University, Mostly Modern Music Festival: Netherlands, Bravo! Vail, and Tippet Rise Art Center.
Her early years in Toronto saw her as a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and a rotating Principal Cellist with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, where she toured the country. Joanne performed in several renowned festivals over the years, including the Banff Chamber Music Residency, Toronto Summer Music Festival, McGill International String Quartet Academy, SLSQ Seminar at Stanford University, Beethoven Haus Residency in Bonn, and the Britten-Pears Program at Snape Maltings.
Along with her performing career, Joanne is a dedicated educator with a passion for inspiring the next generation. Joanne has been a guest lecturer at several universities such as Stanford University and University of Toronto. In summer of 2024, she served on the faculty at PRIZM International Chamber Music Festival and the Mostly Modern Festival USA. Additionally, she was an adjudicator for the 2023 Don Banks Music Awards in Toronto.
Joanne works closely with the Royal Conservatory of Music, giving coachings at the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy and the Oscar Peterson School of Music. Joanne's connection to the RCM is significant, having studied at the Taylor Academy for four years in her youth. After completing her U.S. studies, she returned in 2021 as a Fellow in the prestigious Rebanks Family Fellowship Program.
Joanne holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under the guidance of Eric Kim, Brandon Vamos, and the Pacifica Quartet. She has collaborated in chamber music concerts with renowned musicians such as Orion Weiss, Phillip Setzer, Andrew Wan, Art of Time Ensemble, Owen Dalby, Axel Strauss, and Stephen Lemelin.
Joanne’s career extends well beyond classical music performance, showcasing her diverse talents and interests. In 2024, she appeared as a background special skills actor on a Netflix TV show and made her debut as a children’s book author with Blob the Colorful Star, commissioned by the Autism in Mind Charity. Additionally, one of her poems, "The Swan," was featured on Bristol Lightning’s EP on Spotify. Joanne had a career on Twitch as a streamer, earning the rank of Grandmaster on League of Legends’ TFT for several years. Joanne has performed for Universal Music Group with Icelandic pianist Gabriel Olafs and collaborated with UK Singer Mauvey and Sarah Slean. Her enthusiasm for cross-disciplinary projects highlights her dedication to innovation and collaboration, as she continually seeks new ways to merge her artistic skills with creative ventures.