Lee, Josephine

Josephine Lee, a Korean-born soprano, began her professional career in the Bay Area after winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in the San Francisco District in 2014. She has performed with numerous ensembles, mainly in the United States and South Korea, including the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, Stanford Orchestra, The Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas (formerly the Cincinnati Bach Ensemble), I Cantori di Carmel, Korean Coop Orchestra, Gangneung Philharmonic, and Korea National Opera.

Ms. Lee was a Soprano Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012), where she received the Grace B. Jackson Prize.

Her awards include the Italo Tajo Memorial Award from the CCM Opera Scholarship Competition, third place in the 26th National Opera Association Vocal Competition, and first prize from the Korea National Opera Competition.

In Korea, Ms. Lee’s voice is widely recognized in the “Mishil Theme” and “Opening Theme” of the soundtrack for the popular Korean drama Seon Deok Yeo Wang (Queen Seondeok).

She is also a co-founder of Ensemble Lyrique, a group including violin, cello, flute, and piano, which performs new Korean art songs composed by Mirae Hwang, as well as arrangements of art songs for instruments.

Ms. Lee graduated summa cum laude from both Seoul Arts High School and Seoul National University, and holds a Master’s and a Doctorate in Voice from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

For more information, please visit her website at www.josephineyoongeonglee.com.