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The Korean-born choral conductor and bass-baritone, Chung Uk Lee, studied with Dr. Young-Jo Lee and holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Music Theory from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea (1984). Since moving to Los Angeles, he studied orchestra conducting with Hans Beer and voice with Bard Suverkrop and choral music with Dr. William Dehning and holds a Masters of Music in Choral Music and completed the DMA program in choral music at University of Southern California (USC). During his period of study at USC, he was awarded a full scholarship and also he was assistant conductor of the University Chorus and taught choral conducting. He was guest conductor of many choruses, such as the Korean Christian Choral Society, and he was choral clinician for University Chorus of the University of San Diego.
As a singer, Chung Uk Lee has precise pitch and a warm, soft voice and he has sung in many concerts. He sang the role of Kezal in Smetana's Prodna nebesta with the USC Opera, and George Frideric Handel's Judas Maccabaeus, Zoltán Kodály's Budvari Te Deum, two late Haydn masses, and J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) at USC. As a singher he is a member of LA Master Chorale (since 2012-2013 season)
His J.S. Bach interpretation, both as a singer and as a conductor, has been praised by Dr. Helmuth Rilling, a conductor who is a very highly regarded interpreter of J.S. Bach. Helmuth Rilling also gave lessons to Lee on many occasions. He is also a very talented interpreter of the whole gamut of music, from the earliest periods to contemporary music.
Chung Uk Lee is the music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Choir and Yong-Nak Church of Los Angeles. He is currently serving as Adjunct Professor of Voice at Azusa Pacific University (since September 2007). He currently lives in Rancho Cucamonga, California. |
