Clexical is a student-led nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) that aims to democratize access to contemporary music.
Laurentia founded Clexical team based on her personal struggles as a young musician
to find contemporary pieces to play and learn about.
The collective frustration with the limited resources for exploring modern music inspired her to establish a platform dedicated to enhancing access to contemporary compositions. Through Clexical, they aim to spotlight underrepresented composers, organize workshops and concerts for children with limited exposure to contemporary classical music, and explore innovative trends.
Their shared vision drives 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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Provides awareness and understanding of the contemporary classical music scene.
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Democratizes access to industry news for individuals from all backgrounds.
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Ensures everyone has the opportunity to stay informed and engaged.
Composer Interviews
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Offers insights into composers' creative processes and perspectives.
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Humanizes composers, making their work more relatable and accessible.
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Amplifies the voices of underrepresented composers, promoting diversity in classical
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Cultivates a more inclusive and diverse community within the contemporary music scene.
Educational Workshops
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Provides practical skills and resources to aspiring musicians.
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Addresses the privilege and scarcity of contemporary music education in elite institutions.
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Democratizes access to music education, diversifying the future classical music landscape.
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Empowers young musicians from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
"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 concerts
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Four to five reviews published monthly
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Weekly updates on the contemporary music landscape
Composer Interviews
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Six interviews conducted per month
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Two interview reviews published monthly
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Podcast
Enrichment Programs
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Bi-weekly contemporary music concerts held in public spaces
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Summer camp designed for future generations
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Ambassador Program
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Buddy Program
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"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."
About us
Founder
Jinan Laurentia Woo
A teen violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo, a student at the Juilliard Pre-College division and Columbia Preparatory School and a founder of Clexical ( non-profit corporation 501c(3)). At the age of 12, Laurentia commissioned “Holo”(2020) for solo violin from Korean composer Shin Kim for the Menuhin International Competition, commemorating and her Korean heritage and culture. Additionally, Laurentia won the prize for Best Performance of a Commissioned Work at the 2022 Johansen International Competition for her performance of Jessica Krash’s “The Wisdom of Bella Pavis”(2022).
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.
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Laurentia enjoys listening to and performing a variety of new works. Her favorite contemporary composers include Arvo Pärt, Eliot Carter, and George Crumb. She also loves to follow her favorite living composers and their works, such as Caroline Shaw, Vijay Iyer, Jessie Montgomery, and Aleksandra Vrebalov. Most recently, she became the founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Juilliard Pre-College New Music Ensemble with David Fulmer, and hopes to continue promoting contemporary classical music to her community.
Shin KIM : "HOLO"(2019/2020) for Violin Solo World Premiere performed by violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo for the Menuhin Competition 2021 in Richmond, United States.
Jessica KRASH : "The Imagined Wisdom of Bella Pavis"(2022) for Violin Solo World Premiere performed by violinist Laurentia Jinan Woo for the 2022 Johansen International Competition for Young String Players
Founding Member / Head of Outreach Program
Edward Lee
Edward Lee, a sophomore 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.
Clexical Ambassadors
Founding Member
Hana Tsai (Spence School)
Los Angeles Chapter
Olivia Larco
(Westridge School)
Irvine Chapter
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, Final Performance (World Premiere)
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Alex Robertson – Concertante for Violin and Percussion
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2024Yellow Barn Young Artists Program, Final Performance (World Premiere)
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