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An opportunity to learn about and experience the creative process of a living composer. These distinguished artists will discuss aspects of their music and inspirations and then accept questions from the audience.
Lee Young Ja (b. 1931)
Born in Wonju, Korea, in 1931, Young Ja Lee is one of the most prominent Korean composers of her time. Lee’s music is performed worldwide and she is cited in “The Grove Dictionary of Women Composers” (1994) and the “New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians” (2001). Lee won many awards in her career: First Prize at the “Korean National Music Competition” in Composition (1956), “Korean Composition Award” (1986), “Korean Musician Award (1994), Presidential Award (1995), Grand Prize at the “Korean Composition Award” (1996, 2000, 2008) and the “3.1 Cultural Award” (2009). In 2012, she was decorated the National Silver Crown Medal.
Lee served as head of the composition department at Ewha Women’s University from 1961 to 1983. She held many prestigious positions including chairman of the Korean National Committee for the Asian Composer’s League (ACL), vice president of Korean Composers’ Association, and vice chairman of the board of directors of the Korean Music Association and attended numerous international conferences and seminars. In 1981, Lee co-founded the first women composers’ association in Korea and served as its first president for 13 years. Currently, she is a member of The National Academy of Arts in Korea.
Lee received a D.E.A degree from the Sorbonne University and attended the Paris Conservatory and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. She studied with Woon Young Na, Noel Gallon, Tony Aubin, Marcel Quinet, Ton de Leeuw and Olivier Messiaen. She authored two books, on counterpoint and a thesis on Olivier Messiaen’s orchestral works.