Chung Lee / piano

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Born in Tokyo, Chung Lee enrolled at Kunitachi University in his hometown in 1954.  A first-prize winner at the Mainichi Student Music Competition, one of the most prestigious music contests in Japan, he was able to continue his studies at the University (Akademie/Hochschule) of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna under the guidance of Bruno Seidlhofer and graduated in 1969. Additionally, he enrolled in a composition class with Gottfried von Einem.

 

From 1972 to 2010, he was teaching at the University of Music in Graz, and just one year after joining the University, he became the first Asian to be awarded an Austrian professorship.

 

After his debut recital in Vienna in 1966, Professor Lee traveled around the world, performing solo recitals and concertos with orchestra in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, London, Ljubljana, New York, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Bangkok, and other cities. He has recorded for several radio stations throughout Europe and for Deutsche Grammophon in Japan and has organized masterclasses in Vienna, the Viennese Music Competition in Japan, the Vienna International Piano Competition, and charity concerts with orchestra, with revenues being donated to children in Africa. He currently serves as president of Panmusica Austria, an organization dedicated to the promotion of classical music through competitions and masterclasses.

 

Professor Chung Lee was honoured with the Hong Nan Pa Prize (Seoul, 1975), the Golden Merit Decoration, awarded by the Mayor of the City of Vienna (1995), and the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art, awarded by the President of the Republic of Austria (1997).

 

Though he is now retired, he is still very active as a Pianist, teacher and Organizer of

Musical events.