Orchestras

Director of Orchestral Activities

Lee

Kenny Lee, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Cello and Director of Orchestral Activities
Sallee Hall 208
Phone: (309) 298-1729
K-Lee6@wiu.edu
www.kennyleecello.com

Kenny Lee has been praised for his “lyricism, drive, tenderness, and passion” (The Times Argus). He has concertized throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a recitalist and a chamber musician. He has won top prizes at the New York International Artists Competition, Hudson Valley String Competition, Borromeo Guest Artist Competition, Eastman Concerto Competition, and New England Conservatory Honors Chamber Music Competition as a founding member of the Gioviale Quartet. He has given solo and chamber recitals in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Jordan Hall, and Eastman Kodak Hall. Dr. Lee has appeared as a concerto soloist with several conductors, including with Giancarlo Guerrero, Neil Varon, and William Drury.

Festival appearances have included Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Thy Chamber Music Festival in Denmark, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Taos Chamber Music Festival, and Piatigorsky International Cello Festival. Dr. Lee has performed with the members of the Juilliard, Ying, and Borromeo Quartets and also with the principal players of the Berlin Philharmonic. Dr. Lee is also a Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Flatirons Chamber Music Festival held annually in Boulder, Colorado. As a conductor, he has won first prize at the seventeenth International Conductors Workshop and Competition. He has recently worked with Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, Exeter Symphonia, Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, and Orlando Philharmonic. His conducting mentors have included William Drury and Charles Peltz.

Dr. Lee has held teaching positions at Stetson University, Phillips Exeter Academy, and has given masterclasses at Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Keene State College. His former students have been accepted to the Manhattan School of Music, Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Cleveland Institute, and Peabody Conservatory.

Dr. Lee studied cello with Laurence Lesser, Paul Katz, Lluis Claret, Steven Doane, Hans Jensen, and Steven Pologe. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music with the prestigious Celentano Award in Excellence in Chamber Music and Master and Doctoral degrees from the New England Conservatory with honors.