Clexical is a student-led nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) that aims to democratize access to contemporary music.
Clexical was founded in response to a young musician’s personal struggles to discover and engage with contemporary repertoire.
This individual challenge echoed a broader, collective frustration over the lack of accessible resources for exploring modern music.
Motivated by this gap, the team created a platform devoted to expanding access to contemporary compositions.
Through Clexical, they spotlight emerging and established composers, host workshops and concerts for children with limited exposure to
contemporary classical music, and explore innovative trends shaping the future of the art form.
Their shared vision fuels Clexical's mission to make contemporary music more inclusive and accessible for all,
creating a space where individuals can explore, learn, and grow through the power of music.
This project is made possible with the generous support from
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund(2022),
Alex Nair Bahk Foundation(2023)
and National Federation of Music(2024),
as an awardee of their grants.
What we do
Industry News
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Makes contemporary classical music accessible to everyone.
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Ensures everyone has the opportunity to stay informed and engaged.
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Cultivates a more inclusive and diverse environment within the contemporary music landscape.
Composer Interviews
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Offers insights into composers' creative processes and perspectives.
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Humanizes their work, making it more relatable and accessible.
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Amplifies composers' voices, fostering greater diversity in classical music.
Enrichment Programs
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Provides students with practical skills and resources to deepen their understanding of contemporary music.
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Makes music education accessible to all, shaping a more diverse future.
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Empowers young musicians from all backgrounds to thrive.
"Clexical," as coined by Jinan Laurentia Woo, is indeed a blend of "classical" and "lexical.""Clexical" is a term used to describe a unique way of exploring modern classical music. It focuses on understanding the various musical elements, such as melodies, rhythms, and harmonies, almost like understanding the vocabulary of music. This approach emphasizes analyzing and appreciating the individual components of the music, aiming to engage in a dialogue with the composers through their compositions.
"Clexical," as coined by Jinan Laurentia Woo, is indeed a blend of "classical" and "lexical.""Clexical" is a term used to describe a unique way of exploring modern classical music. It focuses on understanding the various musical elements, such as melodies, rhythms, and harmonies, almost like understanding the vocabulary of music. This approach emphasizes analyzing and appreciating the individual components of the music, aiming to engage in a dialogue with the composers through their compositions.
Our goals
Industry News
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A monthly overview of three featured concerts
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Four to five reviews published each month
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Weekly updates on the contemporary music landscape
Composer Interviews
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Six interviews conducted each month
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Two interviews conducted monthly
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Podcast episodes released regularly
Enrichment Programs
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Bi-weekly contemporary music concerts held in public spaces
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Summer camp designed to inspire future generations
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Ambassador Program for music outreach
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Buddy Program providing mentorship and support
"We aim to inspire young people across the globe with our dynamic enrichment programs.
By forming strong partnerships with schools and institutions, we’re expanding our reach and impact. Our goal is to increase online audience engagement by 50%, connecting even more students
to the transformative power of contemporary music."
President / Co-founder
Edward Lee
Edward Lee, a junior at Bergen County Academies, NJ, is honing his viola skills under Professor Sophie Arbuckle at Juilliard Pre-college. A principal violist with both the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony and the New Jersey All State High School Orchestra, Edward exemplifies leadership and a deep musical understanding, further demonstrated through his three-year involvement with the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Program.
His musical prowess has earned him a full scholarship to 2024's Morningside Music Bridge Program, adding to his rich experiences at prestigious academies like the Paris International Music Academy and Astona Summer Music Academy. A highlight of his journey includes a masterclass with Lawrence Dutton of the Emerson String Quartet, showcasing his dedication to musical excellence.
Beyond performance, Edward's commitment extends to community service. As the music committee chair for the Show Me Your Heart Foundation and the founding member of Clexical, he strives to make classical music accessible to all, particularly aiming to uplift underprivileged children through the power of music.
About us
Founding Member /
Head of Media & Public Relations
Hana Tsai
(Spence School, The Juilliard Pre-College)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
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Zoltán Kodály– Serenade, Op. 12 for Two Violins and Viola
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EnoB NYC, Outreach Concerts
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Asha Melvaini– Life of a Fire for Flute, Violin, Cello and Piano, The Juilliard School / Pre-College Composition Recital
Los Angeles/CA, USA Chapter Leader
Olivia Larco
(Westridge School)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
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Sofia Gubaidulina – "Chaconne" for Solo Piano
Canada Chapter Leader
Dayou Kim
(Taylor Academy of the Royal Conservatory of Music)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
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György Ligeti – Étude No. 13, “The Devil’s Staircase”
- York Bowen - Toccata Op. 155 for Solo Piano
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Alexina Louie - "Fast Forward" for Solo Piano
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Bergen/NJ, USA Chapter Leader
Semin Chun
( School/The Juilliard Pre-College)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
Irvine/CA, USA Chapter Leader
Head of the Enrichment Program
Minji Choi (Northwood High School )
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
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Christian Yom – Piano Quintet "Jongsoli"
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2024Yellow Barn Young Artists Program, World Premiere
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Alex Robertson – Concertante for Violin and Percussion
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2024Yellow Barn Young Artists Program, World Premiere
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Silicon Valley/CA, USA Chapter Leader
Casey Kim (Fremont High School)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
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Giovanni Sollima - "Lamentatio" for Solo Cello
- Benjamin Britten -"Declamato movement from Cello Suite No. 2, Op. 80" for Solo Cello, dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich
Princeton/NJ, USA Chapter Leader
Valentina Chen
(Princeton Day School/The Juilliard Pre-College)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
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“Middleground”, Shelly Washington
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“String Quartet No. 1”, George Walker
Bergen/NJ, USA Chapter Leader
Sejin Chun
(Bergen County Academies)
Contemporary Music Performance Log:
Clexical Ambassadors
Advisor / Founder
Jinan Laurentia Woo
Teen violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo, a student at Juilliard Pre-College and Columbia Prep, founded Clexical, a nonprofit to promote contemporary classical music. At 12, she commissioned Holo (2020) from Korean composer Shin Kim for the Menuhin Competition, honoring her Korean heritage. She later won Best Performance of a Commissioned Work at the 2022 Johansen Competition for her rendition of Jessica Krash's The Wisdom of Bella Pavis.
From those insightful experiences, Laurentia realized that firstly, finding contemporary works written after 1960-which is becoming required at more competitions nowadays-was more challenging than finding works from other periods of classical music. This is because emerging classical works are not broadly publicized and as accessible to those without the knowledge to obtain it. Secondly, communicating with the composer of the work you were working on was an invaluable education in understanding the greater meaning of the piece and its role in shaping the scene of contemporary classical music. This inspired her to create Clexical to provide a platform to introduce new works along with commentary and insight from interviews with composers.
Laurentia’s love for contemporary music extends to a diverse range of composers, from Arvo Pärt and George Crumb to living creators like Caroline Shaw and Jessie Montgomery. Most recently, she co-founded the Juilliard Pre-College New Music Ensemble with David Fulmer, aiming to further engage her community with innovative classical music.