Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Faculty mentor: Abbey Dvorak, PhD, associate professor of music therapy, and Jeremy Manternach, PhD, associate professor of vocal/choral music education, School of Music, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Degree program and anticipated graduation date: PhD in music therapy, May 2025

Sun Joo Lee’s research focuses on the effects of therapeutic group singing for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), as well as their caregivers and family members. PD is an incurable neurodegenerative movement disorder with various symptoms, including voice and speech impairments that can lead to social isolation. Lee studies group singing as a key intervention for PD For members of her therapeutic singing group, Tremble Clefs, she facilitates vocal exercises, breathing techniques, and movement exercises to address PD symptoms. Lee began Tremble Clefs at multiple sites in Arizona and has now established an Iowa City site with a grant from the Office of Community Engagement’s Graduate Engagement Corps.

After graduation, Lee plans to seek an academic position and continue researching the therapeutic effects of group singing for a variety of populations, including those with neurological diseases.

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