Esther Yoo first came to international attention when she became the youngest prize winner of the 10th International Sibelius Violin Competition in 2010, taking third prize aged 16. In 2012, she was awarded fourth prize at the 75th Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition; aged 17 she was one of the youngest competitors. Born in the United States, Esther began playing the violin at the age of 4. She has been living in Belgium from the age of 6, receiving music education in Europe at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels and Hochschule for Music and Theatre in Munich.