Kenny Lee is a versatile conductor and cellist whose performances have been praised for his “lyricism, drive, tenderness, and passion” (The Times Argus). Equally at home on the podium and on stage, he has appeared as a conductor, soloist, and chamber musician across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Lee serves as Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Iowa, where he leads the orchestra program and mentors graduate and doctoral conductors. His recent conducting engagements include appearances with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Czech Chamber Philharmonic, members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Music & More SummerFest Camerata, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. Previously, as Director of Orchestras at Western Illinois University, he was noted for cultivating bold, imaginative programming with the WIU Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. He is also in demand internationally as a guest conductor and masterclass clinician. Lee's recordings appear on Naxos and Klavier Records, with upcoming releases including Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and new works by Andrea Casarrubios and Nicky Sohn.

A committed chamber musician, Lee has collaborated with artists including principal players of the Berlin Philharmonic and members of the Juilliard, Cleveland, Borromeo, and Ying Quartets. His festival appearances include the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Thy Chamber Music Festival (Denmark), Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Taos Chamber Music Festival, and the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival. He is co-founder and artistic director of the Flatirons Chamber Music Festival, a nonprofit organization based in Boulder, Colorado, and a founding member of the Parrish Trio.

As a cellist, Lee has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, and Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. His concerto repertoire includes works by Dvořák, Haydn, Elgar, and Gulda, and he has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Atlanta Sinfonia, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, Eastman Philharmonia, Jordan Winds, and Eugene Symphony. He has collaborated with conductors such as Giancarlo Guerrero, Neil Varon, and William Drury.

A prizewinner in numerous international competitions, Lee has received top honors from the New York International Artists Competition, Hudson Valley String Competition, International Conductor’s Competition, Borromeo Guest Artist Competition, Eastman Concerto Competition, and the New England Conservatory Honors Chamber Music Competition.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Oregon, Lee began his musical studies at age ten. He studied conducting with Steven Sloane, Catherine Larsen-Maguire, Carl St. Clair, and Charles Peltz, and cello with Laurence Lesser, Paul Katz, Steven Doane, and Steven Pologe. Additional artistic guidance came from Hans Jørgen Jensen, Pieter Wispelwey, Lluis Claret, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Frans Helmerson. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he received the John Celentano Award for Excellence in Chamber Music, and the New England Conservatory, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees with honors.