NEC Philharmonia + Earl Lee: Berlioz, Skye, and Ravel

Artist(s)

Winner of the 2022 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, Korean-Canadian conductor Earl Lee ’15 GD has emerged as one of the most compelling and versatile artists of his generation. He has led many of North America’s foremost orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In August 2025, Lee stepped in on short notice to replace Zubin Mehta in the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Tanglewood, where The Boston Globe praised his interpretation as “an unhurried, momentous ritual … the finale nothing short of spectacular.”

In the 2025–26 season, Lee’s engagements included return appearances with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as debuts with the Korean National Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a special project with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).to the orchestra’s seasons. Under his direction, the Ann Arbor Symphony has presented bold repertoire

As Music Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Lee has revitalized the ensemble’s artistic vision with programming that bridges tradition and innovation. His leadership blends a deep respect for the symphonic canon with a curiosity for new and diverse forms of expression, bringing a fresh sense of energy and purpose alongside genre-crossing collaborations with artists such as Jacob Collier and Chris Thile, broadening the ensemble’s reach and musical scope. Beyond Ann Arbor, Lee has worked closely with composers Unsuk Chin, Tod Machover, Donghoon Shin, Katherine Balch, and Carlos Simon, leading numerous world premieres and championing works that expand the expressive possibilities of today’s orchestra.

Lee has been mentored by Andris Nelsons, Manfred Honeck, Hugh Wolff, Peter Oundjian, Kurt Masur, and Bernard Haitink. At Masur’s invitation, he studied privately with him in Leipzig, focusing on the life and music of Felix Mendelssohn — an experience that profoundly shaped his artistic identity.

A former cellist trained at the Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Marlboro Music Festival, Lee brings a chamber musician’s sense of communication, listening, and shared purpose to every performance, seeking to create music that is both unified and deeply expressive.