Role

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Composer

Birth

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1953

Period

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Contemporary

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Keyboard

 

Hope Lee is a Canadian composer of contemporary classical music. She was born in Hong Kong in 1953 and grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a composer and conductor, and her mother was a pianist. Lee began studying piano at a young age and later studied composition at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 1979, Lee moved to Canada to continue her studies at the University of British Columbia. She earned a Master of Music degree in composition in 1982 and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1991. During her time at UBC, Lee studied with renowned composers such as Elliot Carter, Mario Davidovsky, and John Celona. Lee's music is characterized by its use of non-Western musical traditions and instruments, as well as its incorporation of electronic and computer-generated sounds. She has been influenced by her Chinese heritage, as well as her experiences living in Canada and traveling around the world. One of Lee's most notable works is her opera, "The Dragon's Pearl," which premiered in Vancouver in 1995. The opera tells the story of a Chinese princess who is kidnapped by a dragon and must be rescued by a brave warrior. The music incorporates traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu and pipa, as well as Western instruments such as the violin and cello. Another significant work by Lee is her "Four Seasons Suite," which was commissioned by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 2000. The suite is based on the four seasons of the year and features a mix of Western and Chinese instruments. The piece has been performed by orchestras around the world, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. In addition to her compositions, Lee is also a respected educator and has taught at several universities in Canada and the United States. She has been a guest lecturer and composer-in-residence at numerous institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Lee has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Jean A. Chalmers National Music Award in 1996 and the Canada Council for the Arts' Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award in 2005. She has also been recognized for her contributions to Canadian music and culture, receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Overall, Hope Lee's music is a unique blend of Western and non-Western traditions, reflecting her diverse cultural background and experiences. Her compositions have been performed around the world and have earned her a reputation as one of Canada's most innovative and influential contemporary composers.

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