Kenny Lee has established himself as an outstanding artist and leader both on the podium and as a cellist. Praised for his “lyricism, drive, tenderness, and passion” (The Times Argus), he has performed as a conductor, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. 

Lee is Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Iowa, where he conducts the Orchestra and teaches graduate and doctoral conducting students. Additionally, he is the conductor of the prestigious Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonic Orchestra. Recent conducting highlights include collaborations with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Czech Chamber Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony, Moravská Filharmonie Olomouc, Lviv National Philharmonic, Gwinnett Chamber Orchestra, Illinois All-State Orchestra. Prior to his appointment at Iowa, Lee was the orchestra director at Western Illinois University and led the WIU Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra with thrilling and adventurous programs. He travels frequently both as a guest conductor and a masterclass clinician. 

Lee’s musical journeys have led him to collaborations with several esteemed artists, including principal players of the Berlin Philharmonic, members of the Juilliard, Cleveland, Borromeo, and Ying Quartets. Festival appearances have included Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Thy Chamber Music Festival in Denmark, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Taos Chamber Music Festival, and Piatigorsky International Cello Festival. Lee is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Flatirons Chamber Music Festival, a non-profit organization in Boulder, Colorado. Additionally, Lee is a founding member of the Parrish Trio.

Cello performance highlights include solo and concerto appearances in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Jordan Hall, and Eastman Kodak Hall. He recently performed concerti by Dvorak, Haydn, Elgar, and Gulda and has appeared as a soloist with the Atlanta Sinfonia, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, Eastman Philharmonia, Jordan Winds, and Eugene Symphony. He has collaborated as a soloist with conductors such as Giancarlo Guerro, Neil Varon, and William Drury. 

Lee is a top prize winner of several competitions, including the Seventeenth International Conductor’s Workshop and Competition, New York International Artists Competition, Hudson Valley String Competition, Borromeo Guest Artist Competition, Eastman Concerto Competition, and New England Conservatory Honors Chamber Music Competition as the founding member of the Gioviale Quartet. 

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lee grew up in Oregon and began studying music at the age of 10. Lee’s primary conducting teachers included Steven Sloane, Catherine Larsen-Maguire, Carl St. Clair, and Charles Peltz. Lee studied cello with Laurence Lesser, Paul Katz, Steven Doane, and Steven Pologe. He has also worked extensively with Hans Jørgen Jensen, Pieter Wispelwey, Lluis Claret, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Frans Helmerson. Lee graduated from the Eastman School of Music as a recipient of the John Celentano Award for Excellence in Chamber Music. He earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees from the New England Conservatory with honors.