Josephine Lee - Artistic Director

Downloadable version of Josephine's headshot

Born in Chicago, Josephine Lee is a classically trained pianist and violinist, conductor, composer and producer. Appointed in 1999, Ms. Lee is the youngest Artistic Director in the history of Chicago Children's Choir. Under her direction, the Choir has undertaken many highly successful national and international tours, has been featured in nationally broadcast television and radio performances including the 2007 PBS series From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall. Most recently, Ms. Lee was recognized as a 2006 “Chicagoan of the Year in the Arts” by Chicago Tribune.

In June 2002 Chorus America named Ms. Lee the first Robert Shaw Conducting Fellow, which honors the great conductor’s legacy in the choral arts by supporting the professional development of outstanding, emerging conductors who will exemplify the highest standards of choral performance. In 2007, Ms. Lee was honored as a Distinguished Musician by The Union League Club of Chicago and in 1995 received the Union League Civic & Arts Foundation award in piano performance. She was also honored by Today’s Chicago Woman Foundation both as one of Chicago’s twenty-one “Rising Stars” and “Forty Women Under Forty Making a Difference”. Ms. Lee has conducted and performed concerts and master classes in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Canada and Japan. More than a choral conductor, Ms. Lee has also conducted the Chicago, Grant Park and Oregon symphony orchestras.

In addition to working with choral and symphonic repertoire, Ms. Lee introduces the Choir’s singers to opera, theater and dance. In collaboration with David Kersnar (Lookingglass Theatre Company), Grammy-nominated recording artist Jai Uttal, and Krithika Rajagopalan (Natya Dance Theatre), Ms. Lee co-created the epic work of musical theater, Sita Ram, nominated for three 2006 Jeff Equity Awards (Best Original Musical Theater, Best Choreography and Best Musical Direction). In May 2007 with executive producers Erica Mann Ramis and Harold Ramis, Ms. Lee music directed the cultural programming featuring Chicago Children's Choir surrounding The Dalai Lama’s public talk at Chicago’s Millennium Park. In observance of September 11, 2001, Chicago Children’s Choir collaborated with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and presented Citizens of the World, co-created and produced by Ms. Lee with Laura Eason (writer, adaptor), Jessica Thebus (director) and featured Steppenwolf ensemble members with Martha Lavey (artistic director). This performance was broadcast live on Chicago Public Radio, 91.5FM – Sept. 11, 2006. Additionally in 2006-2007, Ms. Lee music directed the soundtrack recording and critically acclaimed performances of the groundbreaking work Underground Movements, created by Frank Chaves and Evan Solot for River North Chicago Dance Company and Chicago Children's Choir.

Ms. Lee co-produced Chicago Children’s Choir’s studio recording Open Up Your Heart (2004) and the soundtrack for Sita Ram (2006). As composer, Ms. Lee was one of thirteen American composers commissioned to write one of their own “New Scenes from Childhood” in honor of Robert Schumann’s “Scenes from Childhood” – a part of Ravinia Festival’s 2006 One Score, One Chicago project.

Ms. Lee currently resides in Chicago with her husband Kevin McConkey. Josephine Lee’s passion in life is opening people’s hearts and minds with music that represents the beauty that is within us all.