Yoon Jae Lee

Yoon Jae Lee enjoys a multifaceted career as a conductor, arranger, pianist, and “artrepreneur.” As Founder & Artistic Director of Ensemble 212, Mr. Lee has built one of today’s finest ensembles based in New York. They have received critical acclaim for their innovative programming of works by living composers, exciting interpretations of the standard repertoire, and his own arrangements and transcriptions. A dedicated champion of new music, Mr. Lee has conducted numerous premieres by Huang Ruo, Daniel Felsenfeld, Ke-Chia Chen, Texu Kim, Nina C. Young, and Jeffrey Mumford. Recent highlights include video productions with Ensemble 212 featuring concertos for haegeum with Soo Yeon Lyuh and his first commercial recording with the Mimesis Ensemble. His list of conducitng engagements include ensemble mise-en, the PRIZM Chamber Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner Orchester Linz, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, and the New England Conservatory. Distinguished artists he has collaborated with include Nick Canellakis, David Krakauer & Mimi Stillman. He served as cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Albano Ballet Company.

Mr. Lee’s arrangements and transcriptions have been performed throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas by leading orchestras such as the Baltimore, Phoenix & Singapore Symphony Orchestras. Praised by audiences and critics alike, the Philadelphia Inquirer claimed his orchestral transcription of Mendelssohn’s Octet “Incorporated winds and brass…intelligently.” The New York Times described his chamber version of Mahler’s Fourth Symphony as “Illuminating…with solos leaping out in unusually bold detail.” He is currently working on the Mahler Chamber Project to arrange the symphonies for chamber orchestra.

A native of New York City, Mr. Lee is a 2nd generation Korean-American. He received degrees from the Mannes School of Music where he was awarded a conducting fellowship. He also studied at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria where he served as Assistant Conductor to the Salzburger Kammerphilharmonie. His mentors include Michael Charry, Dennis Russell Davies, David Hayes, Samuel Wong, and David Zinman.

Mr. Lee has participated in Kurt Masur’s conducting masterclass, the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. He served on the faculty at the Queens College - Aaron Copland School of Music, City College of New York and Haverford College.