Prepare for an exciting sonic journey as Brooklyn-based composer and bandleader, Jihye Lee, brings her musical artistry to Lebanon Valley College for a two-day jazz residency, December 4-5. While at LVC, she will present a masterclass, work with composition and jazz students, and direct the Valley Jazz Orchestra, showcasing her innovative compositions at their fall concert.

Since her debut as a composer of large-ensemble jazz with the release of April (2017), Lee has rapidly established herself as a major compositional voice in the jazz community, earning critical praise for her eclectic, fresh take on contemporary big-band jazz writing. Boasting an impressive repertoire that seamlessly and uniquely blends jazz, a tinge of the avant-garde, and folk music elements of her native Korea, Lee’s music meaningfully pushes stylistic boundaries. The release of her sophomore outing, Daring Mind (2021), all but solidified her reputation. A recent New York Times write-up affirms that “her crisp arrangements balance frenetic virtuosity with an overarching reflective mood…Lee shows no signs of tentativeness about taking her place in the tradition.” Lee’s compositions are musical extensions of her experiences in a given moment, snapshots of emotions and encounters that have shaped her life.

Join us as Jihye Lee presents a masterclass on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. in LVC’s Blair Music Center. That evening at 7:30 p.m., she will lead the Valley Jazz Orchestra, LVC’s premiere jazz ensemble, in a concert of her music at the historic Allen Theatre in Annville. Both events are free and open to the public. Visit here to learn more about Jihye Lee.

Please contact Dr. Jeff Lovell (lovell@lvc.edu) or Dr. Justin Morell (morell@lvc.edu) for more information.