Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Young-Jun Lee is a distinguished composer and interdisciplinary artist currently based in both Baltimore and New York City. His innovative work seamlessly integrates orchestral music, theater, dance, visual arts, and noise, establishing him as a versatile and forward-thinking figure in contemporary composition.
Lee’s compositions have been recognized by prestigious institutions such as the Peabody Conservatory and the Fontainebleau School. He was awarded the Prix de Collaboration Inter-écoles at Fontainebleau for his exceptional collaborative skills and received the Special Prize from the third and fourth Ise-Shima Composition Competition in Japan, an award from the New Vision Composition Competition in New York, and Second Prize at ICIT, hosted by Thailand’s Tacet(i) Ensemble. Additionally, he is a recipient of the John Bavicchi Memorial Prize and the Vuk Kulenovic Memorial Prize during his undergraduate studies.
As a concert curator and co-founder of the New Uncertainty Collective, Lee has successfully spearheaded numerous performances in Baltimore, New York, and South Korea, showcasing his leadership and organizational expertise. These include Violin Extravaganza, Trio at Three, Korean Composers’ Night, and concerts featuring Peabody doctoral students from Felipe Lara’s studio. His innovative curation continues to foster a vibrant and inclusive musical community.
Lee’s work has been supported and developed through international festivals and residencies, including the MacDowell Artist Residency, the Fontainebleau American School of Music, CEME, reMusik.org, Domaine Forget, June in Buffalo, Darmstadt, and New Music on the Point, among others. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned composers such as George Lewis, Helmut Lachenmann, Chaya Czernowin, Unsuk Chin, Philippe Leroux, and Brian Ferneyhough. His works have been premiered and performed by leading ensembles and orchestras worldwide, including the Brasília National Theater Orchestra, Ensemble L’Itinéraire, Mivos Quartet, Ensemble Linea, Arditti Quartet, JACK Quartet, Tacet(i) Ensemble, Brightwork Ensemble, and Hashtag Ensemble.
Notably, as the winner of the Macht Orchestral Composition Competition, his orchestral work was conducted by Maestro Stefan Asbury with the Peabody Concert Orchestra. His music has been presented extensively across the United States and internationally in Canada, Israel, France, Thailand, Austria, and Germany.
Lee holds a Master of Arts in Composition, with a thesis exploring comparative studies of the études of Unsuk Chin and György Ligeti, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where he studies with Felipe Lara. Through an interdisciplinary and socially engaged approach, Young-Jun Lee continues to push the boundaries of contemporary music and contribute meaningfully to the global arts community.
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