News

The JACK Quartet along with pianist Steve Beck and drummer Russell Lacy recorded Lee’s Through the Mangrove Tunnels at Duke University. The 45-minute work explores the history and Lee’s personal memories of Weedon Island, a nature preserve Lee grew up exploring in Florida. Keep an eye out for the recording release!

Peter Askim and the Raleigh Civic Symphony premiered Lee’s new orchestral work Deep Sleep in Stewart Theatre at NC State University as part of a concert featuring the music of North Carolina Composers. The concert also featured works by Lamar Springfield and Karel Husa.

Lee successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Duke University, consisting of a composition, Through the Mangrove Tunnels, for string quartet, piano, and drum set, and an article, “Musical Signification in Thomas Adès’s The Tempest.” His committee consisted of Scott Lindroth, Stephen Jaffe, Philip Rupprecht, and Drew Massey. Through the Mangrove Tunnels will be recorded in late April by the JACK Quartet, Steve Beck, and Russell Lacy.

Lee is one of six composers selected to participate in the American Composers Orchestra’s 27th Annual Underwood New Music Readings for emerging composers. The readings will take place on June 21 & 22 in New York City. Two of the composers will receive a commission for a work to be performed by ACO in an upcoming season.

The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra performed Lee’s Vicious Circles at Atlanta Symphony Hall with Stephen Mulligan conducting. As part of the performance Lee made multiple visits to Atlanta to meet with young orchestral musicians.

Lee has been selected as a Composition Fellow for the 2018 Tanglewood Music Festival. At least four of Lee’s works will be performed at the festival. Lee will participate in weekly master-classes, individual meetings with resident and guest faculty, and opportunities to meet with visiting composers. Composition faculty include Michael Gandolfi, Osvaldo Golijov, John Harrison, Joan Tower, and others.

The University of Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra premiered Lee’s Anadyr under the baton of conductor Anna Wittstruck as part of the 2018 Society of Composers, Inc.’s National Conference in Tacoma, Washington. The piece was chosen through a call for scores in which over 500 works were submitted.

Lee has been selected as a finalist to be the Sioux City Symphony’s Composer of the Year. The winning composer receives a monetary prize, a premiere performance by the Sioux City Symphony, press/media coverage, scheduled lectures at selected local colleges and universities, and involvement in a variety of other community related outreach programs.

Vicious Circles has been chosen as a finalist in the Tampa Bay Symphony’s 2nd Annual Call For Scores Composition Competition. It will be read alongside three other works on January 16th in St. Petersburg, Florida.

NYC-based new music group The Da Capo Chamber Players will perform Bottom Heavy twice as part of a concert featuring the music of young composers. The first performance took place at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, and the second at Bard College.