She is a violinist born in Seoul, South Korea, whose mother was a member of the Seoul Philharmonic, and taught her to play the violin from the time she was 5 years old. This led to her winning several competitions that were held in Seoul.
She moved to the United States following an invitation from the novelist Pearl S. Buck and undertook studies at Philadelphia’s New School of Music. From there she studied for a year at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and continued further studies in violin and chamber music at the Juilliard School.
In 1977 she became a member of the Baltimore Symphony, staying with them for two years before Sir Georg Solti appointed her as the first Asian woman at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
As a soloist she has performed with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and as a chamber musician has appeared with several CSO chamber ensembles and given many recitals. She has appeared in several radio and television broadcasts.
Recordings she has played on include Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, Wagner: Overtures and Preludes, Samuel Barber: The Lovers; Prayers of Kierkegaard and Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Black Tie by The Manhattans and Christmas Celebration, Christmas in the Aire and Yellowstone: The Music of Nature by Manheim Steamroller.
In the field of musical education she has mentored and taught several young students.
Sources:
- https://cso.org/about/performers/chicago-symphony-orchestra/violins/joyce-noh/
- https://csoarchives.wordpress.com/tag/joyce-noh/
- https://www.bsomusic.org/100-years-of-music/violin/
- https://soundcloud.com/joycenoh
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/890359-Joyce-Noh
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joyce-noh-mn0001208001/credits