Simon Kyung Lee, tenor

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Simon Kyung Lee has a performing career that dates back some decades! This former child actor appeared in two major motion pictures in his native Korea (as ?Kyung Jae Lee?) before the idea of singing opera ever entered his head. It was not until the relatively late age of 22 that the young actor began to dream of becoming an opera singer. He began his musical training in his hometown Busan, Korea. After he came to the United States in 1993, Simon worked at Lyric Opera as a chorister and made his solo operatic debut in December of 1995 as Rodolfo (La Boheme) with a newly formed Chicago company, Opera Viva. In 2003, he studied the summer in Italy and he found his voice could emphasize Italian opera such as Verdi and Puccini. In 2004, Mr. Lee performed in recital at the first annual Festival Notte Musicali Modenesi in July and then went to Orlando in August to participate in the master classes and performances under famed baritone Sherill Milnes. Mr. Lee had been awarded scholarship for his participation. He also will sing Calaf (Turandot) in Kansas City and Utah Festival Opera in 2005. His other performed roles are such as Alfredo (La Traviata), Radames (Aida), Manrico (Il Trovatore), Riccardo (Un Ballo), Cavaradossi (Tosca) and even such rarely heard Verdi works of I Lombardi (Chicago Premiere with da Corneto Opera as Arvino). A two time recipient of awards from the National Bel Canto Foundation (in 1999 and 2000), Mr. Lee has utilized his flair with Italian music to his advantage in scores of solo concerts and recitals around the Midwest, including a 1996 gala concert in which the musical artists of North and South Korea performed together on the same Chicago stage for the first time. In addition to his stage and concert work, this charming performer has been a frequent guest on many Chicago radio and T.V. programs.