Lee Jung-hyun, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music
Following a lifetime appointment with the Boston Symphony
First class taught by cello professor at my alma mater
Cellist Lee Jung-hyun (33, pictured) has been appointed as a cello professor at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, USA. Having been active on the international stage as ‘Christine Chung-hyun Lee’, she has recently been appointed as a permanent cellist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, so this is a double blessing. Lee Jung-hyun received her bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and her master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music, and she won first place at the Plovdiv Competition, the Isang Yun International Competition, and other competitions. She has been active on domestic and international stages such as the Kronberg Chamber Music Festival, the Marlborough Festival, and the Yeosu ECO International Music Festival.
Lee Jeong-hyeon, whom I met over the phone on the 5th, said happily, “I had my first class yesterday.” “It’s my alma mater, where I first came to the U.S. to take classes when I was 10 years old. My mentor, Professor Peter Wiley, said, ‘You’re my colleague, so call me Peter.’”
He said, “Coming to Curtis Institute of Music feels like going back in time.” “The campus is filled with old-fashioned buildings. Since the school is not that big, you can take piano lessons from a professor and even take vocal lessons if you want. The professors are also great musicians, so I was able to see and learn from them early on as they worked internationally.”
Before being appointed as a cellist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she went through a one-year trial period. When she was officially appointed as a permanent member, she became a topic of conversation as ‘the first female cellist in 50 years and the first Asian female member.’
“The Boston Symphony Orchestra has a unique, dense sound that is attractive. They commissioned and premiered many pieces by great composers such as Stravinsky and Bartok in the early 20th century, so they are particularly proud of their works. Music director Andris Nelsons leads rehearsals very gently and meticulously.”
Lee Jung-hyun has been a cellist for the string quartet ‘Mona Quartet’ since 2022. Will she be able to do everything from teaching, orchestra, chamber music, to solo activities? “Since Mona Quartet is based in Europe, it’s not easy to make time. We recently hired a new cellist to replace me. I really like chamber music, and fortunately, the faculty at Curtis can do various chamber music activities. I’m trying to find a balance between various activities.” He promised to perform on domestic stages at least two to three times a year.
One of his big goals is to ‘establish a cello foundation.’ “If there’s one thing I learned in America, it’s to dream big, and if you dream big, you get help. I want to create opportunities for people of different backgrounds, such as race, to understand each other through the cello and music.”
Culture reporter Yoo Yoon-jong [email protected]
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2024-09-07 04:50:37