News Article

Internationally acclaimed violinist Kyung Sun Lee will be the soloist for the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra’s first spring concert at 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 3 at the Bing Crosby Theater (formerly the MET), 901 W. Sprague Ave.

Conducted by Kevin Hekmatpanah, the program will consist of Beethoven’s “Fidelio Overture,” “Lalo Symphonie Espagnole” for violin and orchestra, Tchaikovsky “Capriccio Italien” and Waxman “Carmen Fantasie” for violin and orchestra. The soloist will be Lee who is in great demand. Tickets are $7 general admission, $5 for non GU students, and are available at the door. Tickets are free to GU students, faculty and staff. A free shuttle bus will depart from St. Aloysius Church at 6:45 p.m. and 7:10 p.m., and will return after the concert.

Since winning numerous international competitions in the early ’90s, Lee has enjoyed ever-increasing popularity. In great demand as a soloist, Lee has been guest artist with the Jupiter Symphony in New York City, Munich Radio Orchestra, Moscow National Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, KBS Orchestra, Pu-Chun Philharmonic, Taipei City Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Gainesville Chamber Orchestra, and a host of others. She often performs with pianist-husband Brian Suits.

Her CD releases include: “Salut d’Amour” with pianist HaeSun Paik on EMI and “Spanish Heart” with German pianist Peter Schindler and guitarist Sung-Ho Chang on Good International. Lee also recorded two CDs with Suits: sonatas of Bartok, Debussy, and Prokoviev; and “Points Unknown,” including show pieces and shorter works.

A popular teacher in Seoul, Lee is a professor of violin at the University of Houston. Lee received degrees from Seoul National University and the Peabody Conservatory. She also attended the Juilliard School in the professional studies program.

Her teachers have included Nam Yun Kim, Sylvia Rosenberg, Robert Mann, Dorothy DeLay and Hyo Kang. Kyung Sun Lee plays a Joseph Guarnerius violin made in 1723.

For more information, contact the music department office at (509) 323-6733, or visit its Web site.