Josephine Lee

The president and artistic director of Uniting Voices Chicago has revolutionized youth choral music, encompassing cutting-edge performances of diverse repertoire; ongoing partnerships with Lyric, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Ravinia; and extensive national and international tours. Among Lee’s recent projects have been two world premieres (Long Way Home with the Q Brothers Collective, and Sita Ram with David Kersnar of Lookingglass Theatre) and a collaboration with Chance the Rapper (Coloring Book). In 2019, Lee made her conducting debut with members of the National Philharmonic at Strathmore. In 2015, Lee founded a new young-people’s chorus, Vocality, heard with the CSO at Ravinia (Porgy and Bess, Bernstein’s Mass). Current projects include a new theatrical work by David Kersnar, J. Nicole Brooks, and Uniting Voices Chicago composer-in-residence Mitchell Owens III. An experienced singer herself, Lee appeared in the critically praised 2018 world premiere of Ted Hearne’s Place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival.

Previously at Lyric: 14 productions since 2000/01, most recently For the Love of Lyric (2020/21); The Queen of Spades, Dead Man Walking (both 2019/20); La bohème (2018/19).

Last updated: September 13, 2020