Experience Summary
Yoon Jae Lee enjoys a multifaceted career as a conductor, arranger, pianist, and artrepreneur. As Founder & Artistic Director of Ensemble 212, Mr. Lee has built one of today’s finest ensembles based in New York. They have received critical acclaim for their innovative programming of works by living composers, exciting interpretations of the standard repertoire, and his own arrangements and transcriptions. A dedicated champion of new music, Mr. Lee has conducted numerous New York and world premieres of works by award-winning composers including Mohammed Fairouz, Huang Ruo, Daniel Felsenfeld, Ke-Chia Chen, Texu Kim, Nina C. Young, and Jeffrey Mumford. Recent highlights include conducting engagements with the PRIZM Chamber Orchestra, and the ensemble mise-en 6th annual new music festival. In March 2019, he conducted a concert devoted exclusively to his own arrangements at the Maltz Performing Arts Center at Case Western University and served as cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra this past summer. His list of guest conductor appearances includes the K Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner Orchester Linz, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, the New England Conservatory, Opera on Tap, and collaborations with distinguished artists including Nick Canellakis, D’Anna Fortunato, David Krakauer, Mimi Stillman, and many others. Mr. Lee served as the Principal Conductor of the Albano Ballet Company which commissioned his chamber arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.
Mr. Lee’s arrangements and transcriptions have been performed throughout Asia, Europe, North and South America by leading orchestras such as the Baltimore and Phoenix Symphony Orchestras. Praised by audiences and critics alike, David Patrick Stearns of the Philadelphia Inquirer claimed his orchestral transcription of Mendelssohn’s Octet “Incorporated winds and brass…..intelligently.” The New York Times described his chamber version of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony as “Illuminating….. with solos leaping out in unusually bold detail.” He is currently engaged in “The Mahler Chamber Project” to arrange all the symphonies and Das Lied von der Erde for chamber orchestra.
A native of New York City, Mr. Lee is a 2nd generation Korean-American. He received degrees in piano and conducting from the Mannes School of Music where he was awarded the N. T. Milani Memorial Conducting Fellowship and the Peter M. Gross Fund. He also studied at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria. During that time, he served as Assistant Conductor to the Salzburger Kammerphilharmonie. His conducting mentors include Michael Charry, Dennis Russell Davies, David Hayes, Arkady Leytush, Murry Sidlin, Samuel Wong, and David Zinman.
Mr. Lee has participated in Kurt Masur’s conducting masterclass, the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute led by his keen interest in historical performance practice. He served on the faculty at the Queens College – Aaron Copland School of Music, City College of New York and Haverford College.
Teaching Style
I am a certified Steinway education partner with over 17 years of teaching experience. I offer lessons in [classical] piano, conducting, arranging/orchestration as well as private tutoring in ear training and theory.
As a professional musician, I love sharing my passion of making music with others. Whether you are totally new to piano or a seasoned player wishing to brush up your skills, I can help you develop a more in-depth experience with piano. During lessons I emphasize skills such as correct note-reading, attention to details in the music, developing proper technique, critical thinking and listening, creative problem-solving, efficient practice, and exploring new repertoire. To encourage growth and consistent improvement, I recommend all my students to perform once or twice a year in my student recitals at Steinway Hall but this is entirely optional and based on the student's comfort level.
I am very patient, encouraging and supportive of my students. All I ask for is a commitment to make music an integral part of your life. Whatever your skill level and personal goals may be, I will help you improve and enjoy playing the piano more. The skills you will learn in our lessons can be applied to all areas of your life, not just piano.
Piano is for everyone and it’s never too late to start learning. Lessons are available for either 45 or 60 minutes. 30 minute lessons are available only for young beginners under the age of 10. If you have any questions regarding how to start lessons with me, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!
Other Comments
As a professional musician, I love sharing my passion of making music with others. I believe that one cannot be a complete musician by only performing. Musicians must also be able to share their talents by educating and inspiring others to create and perform music. Just like sports, I believe music can be much better appreciated through active participation and direct involvement in the creative process as opposed to simply observing others presenting the finished product passively. This creates a mutual understanding between the professional musician and the musical aficionados.
I enjoy helping people discover their musical potential and seeing the satisfaction that comes from learning new skills. Teaching music is simply not a profession for me, it is my life's devotion. Music revolves around everything I do and nothing gives me greater joy when my love for music is passed onto my students, who in turn pass their gift of music to their friends, families, and loved ones. Music transforms our lives for the better and we each do this by creating music ourselves from the heart and not just by listening to professionals performing it.