CSU Hosts American Debut of an International Wonder
Korean soprano, Eun Joo Lee, is extremely famous on the other
side of the world and is making her American debut at CSU this
weekend.
This unique performance of traditional classical pieces and
Korean folk songs is scheduled to take place on Sunday in the Music
Building Recital Hall room 203.
Lee’s daughter, Min Kim, is a freshman open option major at CSU
and helped to translate during a short interview with her mother.
Kim said she is very excited and supportive of mother’s choice to
make her American debut in Fort Collins.
“I think it is such a good opportunity for her and for students
to hear her,” Kim said. “This is what she is best at.”
Lee’s daughter is not the only one excited to see her perform
this weekend.
“When we heard she was coming to the office everyone went
crazy,” said Lauren Koziel, publicity assistant for the Department
of Music, Theatre and Dance. “Everyone is really excited. She is
supposed to be amazing.”
Lee has performed over 200 times all across the world including
eight solo recitals in Germany and Korea. She has also won
international vocal competitions in Spain, Korea and Germany.
“No matter where I perform my favorite part is the connection I
make with the audience,” Lee said.
Not only does Lee sing for audiences all around the world, but
also she consistently performs for sold out crowds of hundreds of
people.
“In December she performed in a solo recital with a sold-out
crowd of a thousand people, as well as having the entire recital on
radio, broadcast over all of Korea,” said Cynthia Vaughn, soprano
and professor of music at CSU.
Lee will perform an afternoon of unique song and music by
artists such as Mozart, Rossini and Schubert, as well as personally
selected, one-of-a-kind Korean folk songs.
“I am hoping that a lot of people will come,” Lee said. “I am
really hoping to have a good recital.”
Lee first planted her roots in such culturally diverse types of
music while attaining her a voice and opera degree at Yonsei
University in Korea and later went on to earn performance degrees
from National Music Colleges in Freiburg and Karlsruhe,
Germany.
Because Lee has studied music most of her life and in different
parts of the world, Vaughn claims that her performance will be a
great chance for students to hear music that they normally wouldn’t
listen to.
“This is a great opportunity for students to hear a live
performance of beautiful music that is different from what they are
used to,” Vaughn said. “It is a chance to be exposed to music from
other countries by someone who is very famous in her country.”
Kim said her mother ultimately made the decision of making her
American debut at CSU last year when they came as a family to Fort
Collins because Kim was considering attending CSU.
“When we came last year my mom got a chance to talk to the music
department and give them a CD. Since then, CSU has been planning
for this recital with my mom,” Kim said.
Tickets to what promises to be a cultural awakening are $5 for
students and $10 for non-students and with Valentine’s Day on
Saturday, it is the perfect weekend to enjoy the romance of
classical and cultural music.
“We really hope to have a big turnout, especially since she sold
out her last recital of a thousand people,” Vaughn said.
Even though the CSU music hall only holds around 200 people, Lee
isn’t worried about having a smaller crowd than what she is used
to. In fact, she is particularly excited.
“I am used to performing in front of large crowds,” Lee said.
“But I think being in front of a smaller audience will give me a
better chance to connect with the crowd.”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.