Su-a Lee

Su-a Lee 이 수아
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Cello, musical saw
Labels	Delphian Records
Associated acts	Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Mr McFall's Chamber, Hidden Orchestra, India Alba, La Banda Europa[1]

Su-a Lee is a classical musician born in Seoul, South Korea, married to Gordon Davidson in 2013 and resident in Edinburgh, Scotland.^[2][3]

Education

Lee was given a full scholarship to attend Chetham's School of Music (along with her two sisters Song-a^[4] and Hae-a)^[5] in Manchester at the age of nine. In 1988, she was then awarded a full-scholarship place to study with the late Harvey Shapiro at the Juilliard School in New York where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1992.^[3]  Lee returned to New York in 2007, to play a recital at Carnegie Hall as part of a piano trio^[6] with her sister Songa and pianist Louise Thomas.

Career

Appointed assistant principal cellist in 2003, Su-a has been a member of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra since 1993. She is also active in the experimental SCO Lab group and regularly participates in both the orchestra's education and community outreach programmes. In 2009, the SCO made an extensive tour of India, where the Lab group played as soloists alongside the Sarod Maestro, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. A CD of their collaboration Samaagam was released in May 2011.^[7]

Alongside other players in the SCO, Robert McFall (violin), Brian Schiele (viola) and Scottish Ballet's principal bass player Rick Standley, Lee was a founding member of the group Mr McFall's Chamber^[8] which was formed to present classical music in new and inventive ways. Mr McFall's Chamber began as a string quartet playing avant-garde classical music in late-night club venues.^[9]  The group has expanded to include a wide range of performers playing diverse repertoires from cartoon classics, through to progressive rock, jazz and tango nuevo. In 2010, they performed the works of the late Celtic fusion pioneer Martyn Bennett (Lee is also an Associate Member of the Marty Bennett Trust.)^[10] with the album Birds and Beasts, collaborated with Norwegian electronic jazz percussionist Thomas Strønen^[11] and worked with the idiosyncratic Dundee poet Michael Marra on the album Michael Marra.^[12] Though Lee spends most of her time playing classical music, she also plays across all art forms and a wide musical spectrum. She has played for theatre, dance and film and performs and records regularly with Scotland's jazz and folk luminaries^[13] and is also Chief Patron of the Perth Youth Orchestra.^[14]  In 2009 she further explored the territory of improvised music, collaborating with painter Alan Kilpatrick to perform an improvised live installation piece at the Fleming Gallery in London Mayfair.^[15]  In January 2012, Lee performed with former Cream bass player, Jack Bruce with Mr McFall's Chamber at Celtic Connections.^[16][17]

At Celtic Connections 2013, Lee further expanded her musical range, playing at the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, with India Alba alongside two classical Indian musicians, Gyan Singh and Sharat Chandra Srivastava and two Scottish musicians; virtuoso on pipes and whistles, Ross Ainslie and renowned instrument maker and performer Nigel Richard.^[18] After playing as a guest in the band's line-up at both the Solas and Insider Music Festivals in June 2013, Su-a agreed to a permanent position with the band.

Some musical critics have regarded a number of Lee's projects as "challenging and experimental";^[19] projects "pushing musical and performance boundaries".^[20][21]  In April 2012, her musical saw playing came to the attention of Eric Clapton, resulting in a request to record her at British Grove Studios. Lee has performed in countries and venues in both the Northern and Southern hemisphere including some unorthodox and unconventional locations including Japanese temples, circus tents, waterfalls – and even special concerts for babies.^[22][23]

Award Nominations

• Top 50 most eligible woman in Scotland – Scotland on Sunday (2007)^[24]

Discography

Scottish Chamber Orchestra 1998 Scottish Chamber Orchestra[25] – Schubert Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9 2006 Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Beethoven Symphonies 1–9[26] 2007 Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Hallgrímsson Cello Concertos[27] 2008 Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Mozart Symphonies 38–41[28] Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Mozart Sinfonia Concertante[29] Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Harper: Miracles – The Music of Edward Harper[30] 2009 Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Mozart Symphonies 29, 31 'Paris', 32, 35 'Haffner' and 36 'Linz' [31] 2010 Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Strauss – Ariadne on Naxos/Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme[32] Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Amjad Ali Khan – Samaagam[33] 2012 Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Weber Wind Concertos[34] Scottish Chamber Orchestra – Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique[35]

Mr McFall's Chamber 1999 Mr McFall's Chamber – Like the Milk 2001 Mr McFall's Chamber – Revolucionario Mr McFall's Chamber – Upstart Jugglers 2007 Mr McFall's Chamber – Gavin Bryars 2009 Mr McFall's Chamber – Newcastle New Music 2010 Mr McFall's Chamber – Birds and Beasts Mr McFall's Chamber – Michael Marra 2011 Mr McFall's Chamber – The Okavango Macbeth 2013 Mr McFall's Chamber – "La Pasionaria"

With others

2000 Alyth (singer) – An Iomall 2003 Fraser Anderson – 'and the girl with the strawberry...' 2005 Heather MacLeod – "Crossing Tides" 2006 Karine Polwart – Scribbled in chalk 2007 Andi Neate – Flying Full Circle 2008 Eliza Carthy – Dreams of Breathing Underwater Colin Steele – Stramash[36] Andi Neate – Crows, Rooks and Ravens Max Richter – 24 Postcards in Full Colour

2009 James Grant (musician) – Strange Flowers Fiona J. Mackenzie – Deagh Dheis Aodaich (A Good Suit of Clothes) Michelle Burke – Pulling Threads Lauren MacColl – Strewn with Ribbons 2010 Hidden Orchestra – Tru Thoughts (BBC Radio 1, Album of the Month) Isobel Campbell – Hawk Alan Coady and Zoë Moskal – Love Burns 2011 Anna-Wendy Stevenson – My Edinburgh Bella Hardy – Songs Lost or Stolen David Ferrard – Journeyman – Album of the Week, BBC Radio Scotland 2012 Hidden Orchestra – Archipelago[37] Eric Clapton (Recorded April 2012 – To Be Released) – Musical Saw James Ross – Chasing the Sun 2013 Amy Duncan – "cycles of life"

References

1. "La Banda Europa". Jimsutherland.uk.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
2. Discography Su-a Lee's listing on Discogs
3. "Su-a Lee". Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
4. http://songalee.com/bio.php Songa Lee Biography – Retrieved 10 October 2012
5. http://www.houstongrandopera.org/hgoorchestra/ List of members of the Houston Grand Opera – Retrieved 10 October 2012
6. http://songalee.com/gallery/content/_4442064414_large.html Picture of Carnegie Hall Trio – Retrieved 10 October 2012
7. http://insideworldmusic.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/cd-review-amjad-ali-khanscottish.html Samaagam – CD Review
8. http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/lifestyle/arts-perthshire/2010/06/18/cellist-su-a-lee-to-give-fund-raising-recital-for-pyo-73103-26673703/ Press article indicating Su-a Lee as a founding member of Mr McFall's Chamber
9. http://www.bachtrack.com/review-edinburgh-queens-hall-mr-mcfalls-chamber-baltic-music Bachtrack concert review 6 August 2012
10. http://www.martynbennett.com/MBT.html List of Associate Trust Member found under – Trust Members
11. http://www.thomasstronen.com/xml/pohlitz_home.php Thomas Strønen – Collection of reviews
12. http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/michael_marra_with_mr_mcfalls_chamber__recorded_live_on_tour_2010_cd Michael Marra – CD Review
13. http://www.jimsutherland.uk.com/La-Banda-Europa/The-Musicians List of Musicians from La Banda and the True North Orchestra
14. Perth Youth Orchestra – Chief Patron
15. "Society of Scottish Artists". S-s-a.org. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
16. "Event Details | Jack Bruce with special guests Lau & friends and Domini Màgic". Celtic Connections. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
17. "BBC Two – ArtWorks Scotland, Jack Bruce: The Man Behind the Bass". Bbc.co.uk. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
18. http://www.mrigya.com/members.htm
19. http://www.tvbomb.co.uk/?p=9760 10 minute score competition
20. http://sanctuarysessions.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/lucken-hare-tongue-that-never-lies.html Sanctuary – An ensemble centred on four fiddles, with accompaniment including cello and accordion, in a piece that also incorporates alternative tunings, graphic scoring and a strong improvisational element.
21. http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=5421 Max Richter – CD Review
22. http://www.reelingwrithing.com/presents.html Special concerts for babies – aged 4 – 18 months
23. http://www.gramophone.co.uk/blog/concerts-and-events/performing-musical-saw-in-a-potato-barn Performing Musical saw in a potato barn
24. http://eligibles.scotsman.com/pdf/20071118_Eligibles.pdf
25. http://www.medieval.org/music/classical/cds/tlc80502.html List of orchestral performers
26. "Beethoven Symphonies 1–9 – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
27. "Hallgrímsson Cello Concertos – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
28. "Mozart Symphonies 38–41 – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
29. "Mozart Sinfonia Concertante – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
30. "Harper: Miracles – The Music of Edward Harper – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
31. "Mozart Symphonies 29, 31 'Paris', 32, 35 'Haffner' and 36 'Linz' – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
32. "Strauss – Ariadne on Naxos/Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
33. "Amjad Ali Khan – Samaagam – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
34. "Weber Wind Concertos – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
35. "Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique – Scottish Chamber Orchestra". Shop.sco.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
36. Stramash – CD Review
37. http://www.thecmuwebsite.com/article/approved-hidden-orchestra-vorka/ Complete Music Update – CD review

External links

• Official website
• Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• Review of Su-a Lee with The Poozies