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Josephine Lee
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Josephine Lee
Artistic Director, Chicago Children's Choir
Founded in 1956, the Chicago Children's Choir is a multiracial, multicultural choral music education organization, shaping the future by making a difference in the lives of children and youth through musical excellence.
Born in Chicago , Josephine Lee is a classically trained pianist and violinist, conductor, composer and producer. Appointed in 1999, Ms. Lee is the youngest Artistic Director in the history of Chicago Children's Choir. Under her direction, the Choir has undertaken many highly successful national and international tours, has been featured in nationally broadcast television and radio performances and will appear on the PBS series From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall in April, 2007.
In June 2002 Chorus America named Ms. Lee the first Robert Shaw Conducting Fellow, which honors the great conductor’s legacy in the choral arts by supporting the professional development of outstanding, emerging conductors who will exemplify the highest standards of choral performance. She was also honored by Today’s Chicago Woman Foundation both as one of Chicago’s twenty-one “Rising Stars” and “Forty Women Under Forty Making a Difference”. Ms. Lee has conducted and performed concerts and master classes in Austria , Czech Republic , Germany , Israel , Italy , Russia , South Korea , Thailand , Canada and Japan . More than a choral conductor, Ms. Lee has also conducted the Chicago, Grant Park and Oregon Symphony orchestras.
In addition to working with choral and symphonic repertoire, Ms. Lee introduces the Choir’s singers to opera and theatre. In collaboration with David Kersnar (Lookingglass Theatre Company), Grammy-nominated recording artist Jai Uttal, and Krithika Rajagopalan (Natya Dance Theatre), Ms. Lee co-created the groundbreaking work of musical theater, Sita Ram, recently nominated for three 2006 Jeff Equity Awards (Best Original Musical Theater, Best Choreography and Best Musical Direction). In observance of September 11, 2001, Chicago Children’s Choir collaborated with Steppenwolf Theater Company and presented Citizens of the World, co-created and produced by Ms. Lee with Laura Eason (writer, adaptor), Jessica Thebus (director) and featured Steppenwolf ensemble members with Martha Lavey (artistic director). This performance was broadcast live on Chicago Public Radio, 91.5FM – Sept. 11, 2006 .
Ms. Lee co-produced the Chicago Children’s Choir’s recordings Open Up YourHeart (2004) and the recently released soundtrack for Sita Ram (2006). As composer, Ms. Lee was one of thirteen American composers commissioned to write one of their own “New Scenes from Childhood” in honor of Robert Schumann’s “Scenes from Childhood” – a part of Ravinia Festival’s 2006 One Score, One Chicago project.
Josephine Lee ’s passion in life is opening people’s hearts and minds with music that represents the beauty that is within us all.
Media Contact: Davin Peelle, Marketing and PR Director, 312.849.8300 x222, dpeelle@ccchoir.org
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