Biography

BIOGRAPHY

PAUL YEON LEE is a Korean-American composer who is committed to writing the most poignant, eloquent, and passionate music that he can imgine. Lee appreciates all types of music. However, his major musical influences are Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric François Chopin, Gustav Mahler, Miles Davis, Shin Seung-Hun (신승훈) and Korean traditional folk music. Lee's music has received many performances by various musicians and ensembles throughout the United States, Europe and Asia including the world renowned Gramophone Award French pianist Pascal Rogé and amazing pianist Ami Hakuno, gifted flutists Christina Jennings and Mary Fukushima, Speculum Musicae, Contemporary Music Ensemble at Mannes College of Music, Del Sol String Quartet, Chicago Korean Music Ensemble, Ne(x)tworks Ensemble, Florida State University New Music Ensemble, University of Missouri-Kansas City Musica Nova Ensemble, Cutting Edge Ensemble, Lost Dog New Music Ensemble, Indiana University Percussion Ensemble, Erato Chamber Orchestra, Indiana University Chamber Orchestra, Wayne State University Orchestra, University of Michigan Philharmonia Orchestra, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Haddonfield Symphony, Redwood Symphony, Quincy Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

A recipient of the 2001 Helen F. Whitaker Commission from the American Composers Orchestra, Lee has also received many commissions including from Redwood Symphony; Anthony J. Cirone, Chair of the Percussion Department at Indiana University in Bloomington; Amos Yang, cellist of the Seattle Symphony; Joshua Friedlander, violinist of the Florida State University New Music Ensemble; Lost Dog New Music Ensemble; and Pascal Rogé. Lee is currently composng the five movement work “Ari, Ari… ari” (아리, 아리... 아리) for Del Sol String Quartet, "Pale Flame" for DuoSolo (flute and piano), third commission “Marimba Concerto” for Anthony J. Cirone and new piano four hands music for Pascal Rogé and Ami Hakuno.

Lee has received many honors and awards including the Earplay Donald Aird International Composers Composition Competition (honorable mention, 2009), Korean Cultural Service NY fund (2009), Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Composer Workshop (2008), Walter Hinrichsen Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2005), Pacific Symphony American Composer’s Competition (semi-finalist, 2003), ACO Whitaker New Music Reading Sessions (2001), Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1999), Symphony in C (formerly Haddonfield Symphony) Young Composers’ Competition (1999), Chicago Symphony Orchestra First Hearing Composition Competition (finalist, 1998) and ASCAP. Lee has been a fellow at the World Music Festival Millennium Park in Chicago (2009), Taranaki International Festival of the Arts, New Zealand (2009), Cutting Edge Concerts Festival (2005, 2009), 10th Adam Chamber Music Festival in Nelson, New Zealand (2009), American Composers Alliance’s Festival of American Music (2004), MacDowell Colony (2003), Atlantic Center for the Arts (2002), Kansas Symposium of New Music at the University of Kansas in Lawrence (2001), Mid-America Composers’ Festival at Grinnell College in Iowa (1999), Mid-West Composers’ Symposium at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio (1997), California State University Summer Arts Composers’ Workshop in Long Beach (1996) and numerous SCI Conferences in the United States including the National Annual Conference in New York (1999).

As a baritone, Lee has spent many years in church and university choirs. He has sung numerous oratorios and repertoires including Messiah by George Frederic Handel, Requiem by Johannes Brahms and opera excerpts by Giuseppe Verdi with San Jose Symphony under maestro Leonid Grin. Also, Lee has been a member of the San José State University Gamelan Ensemble where he has been privileged to perform with the unique instruments built by Lou Harrison himself. As a conductor, Lee has served as an assistant conductor at Korean church. Furthermore, Lee has conducted university chamber ensembles, the University of Michigan Symphonic Band and Wayne State University Orchestra during reading sessions. In spare time, Lee enjoys playing alto saxophone for fun and little piano pieces by Frédéric Chopin such as Nocturnes, Waltzes, and Mazurkas. He is currently learning an acoustic guitar.

Lee has earned a doctorate degree (DMA) in music composition at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His principal teachers have included Leslie Bassett, Bright Sheng, William Bolcom, Pablo Furman and Allen Strange. Furthermore, Lee has participated in master classes with George Crumb, Andrew Imbrie and Mario Davidovsky. Lee is a member of ASCAP. His music is published by C.F. Peters Corporation and Theodore Presser Company. Lee's recent transcription, L'HISTOIRE DE BABAR for Piano Four Hands and Narrator, will be soon published and on sale by Chester Edition in London.

"... an excellent and interesting composer, with a passion that is not often found in music nowadays."

- William Bolcom

"Life without Passion is meaningless... I am a composer, and I speak through music that is sincere, personal, poignant, lyrical, mysterious and passionate. If you want to know about me, you must LISTEN carefully to my music. You will learn the genuine and authentic side of me."

- Paul Yeon Lee

* THE SONG OF FINIS *

At the edge of All the Ages

A Knight sate on his steed,

His armor red and thin with rust

His soul from sorrow freed;

And he lifted up his visor

From a face of skin and bone,

And his horse turned head and whinnied

As the twain stood there alone.

No bird above that steep of time

Sang of a livelong quest;