su-a lee
Korean born cellist Su-a Lee is one of the highlights of the Scottish music scene. Celebrated wherever she goes, she stands out for her versatility, popularity, and appetite for musical adventure.
Born in Seoul, Su-a trained at Chethams School of Music, completing her studies at the Juilliard School in New York. On graduating, Su-a moved to Scotland, where she is Assistant Principal Cello with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. As well as performing in the world’s major concert halls, you are as likely to find her in unorthodox and interesting locations, including Japanese temples, circus tents and waterfalls!
As an SCO member for 26 years, Su-a has recorded many award-winning classical music discs. She has appeared in recital with her sister, Songa Lee, at Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as in chamber music concerts across Scotland with her SCO colleagues.
Though Su-a spends most of her time playing classical music, she is also very much in demand across a wide musical spectrum, working in all art forms. She has played for theatre, dance and film projects, and she performs and records regularly with Scotland’s jazz and folk stars. In 2015, she took a sabbatical to study and collaborate with musicians from across the globe, incorporating genres of folk, classical, Arabic, Celtic, Swedish, Eastern traditions. Musicians included members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Mike Block, Natalie Haas, Rushad Eggleston, Steven Doane, Simon Shaheen, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Swedish band Sver.
The range of her non classical work has encompassed recording Musical Saw for Eric Clapton, performing at Celtic Connections with Jack Bruce of Cream and the folk band Lau, to improvisatory work with the Belgian Theatre group Reckless Sleepers, regular appearances with folk fiddler Duncan Chisholm, and a tour of India with the Sarod maestro, Amjad Ali Khan. In 2013 she was invited to become a member of India Alba, after performing with them at Celtic Connections, Solas and Insider Festivals. She has collaborated with Norwegian hardanger fiddle player, Tuva Faerden, amongst many other internationals at the Strings of the World Festival in Delhi.
Su-a is also a founder member of the innovative music ensemble Mr McFall's Chamber. Beginning in 1996 by playing avant-garde string quartet music in late-night club venues, the group has grown to encompass an eclectic range of different traditions. Their diverse repertoire includes cartoon classics, through progressive rock, to jazz, tango nuevo and folk. Their recordings include the music of the late Celtic fusion pioneer Martyn Bennett, the Norwegian electronic jazz percussionist Thomas Strønen, and works of the idiosyncratic Dundee poet and songwriter, Michael Marra. They remain an important commissioning stimulus, with many composers on the roster, such as Errollyn Wallen, Gavin Bryars, James MacMillan, Eddie McGuire and Martin Suckling.
With a special passion for working with young musicians, Su-a regularly participates in SCO Connect's education and community work and works with dementia patients and adolescents with mental health problems. She has toured a very successful series of performances for babies with Reeling and Writhing Theatre. She is Patron-in-Chief of the Perth Youth Orchestra, a regular coach for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and for many years was a coach to the Icelandic National Youth Orchestra and Cambridge County Youth Orchestra. She is a tutor and workshop leader for the Benedetti Foundation which launched in Jan 2020.
Her examination experience includes the RCS (Recital Prize), St Mary’s Music School (Recital Prize) and BBC Young Musician of the Year (Scottish Region), as well as ongoing audition processes. In 2020 she was appointed to the post of Specialist External Examiner in the Trad Music Department of the RCS.
In 2019, she was presented with the Inspiration Award at the BBC Alba Trad Music Awards.
Su-a Lee is an Associate Member of the Martyn Bennett Trust, a Trustee of the Board of the Soundhouse Trust, the Nevis Ensemble and the Tinderbox Orchestra.
Born in Seoul, Su-a trained at Chethams School of Music, completing her studies at the Juilliard School in New York. On graduating, Su-a moved to Scotland, where she is Assistant Principal Cello with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. As well as performing in the world’s major concert halls, you are as likely to find her in unorthodox and interesting locations, including Japanese temples, circus tents and waterfalls!
As an SCO member for 26 years, Su-a has recorded many award-winning classical music discs. She has appeared in recital with her sister, Songa Lee, at Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as in chamber music concerts across Scotland with her SCO colleagues.
Though Su-a spends most of her time playing classical music, she is also very much in demand across a wide musical spectrum, working in all art forms. She has played for theatre, dance and film projects, and she performs and records regularly with Scotland’s jazz and folk stars. In 2015, she took a sabbatical to study and collaborate with musicians from across the globe, incorporating genres of folk, classical, Arabic, Celtic, Swedish, Eastern traditions. Musicians included members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Mike Block, Natalie Haas, Rushad Eggleston, Steven Doane, Simon Shaheen, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Swedish band Sver.
The range of her non classical work has encompassed recording Musical Saw for Eric Clapton, performing at Celtic Connections with Jack Bruce of Cream and the folk band Lau, to improvisatory work with the Belgian Theatre group Reckless Sleepers, regular appearances with folk fiddler Duncan Chisholm, and a tour of India with the Sarod maestro, Amjad Ali Khan. In 2013 she was invited to become a member of India Alba, after performing with them at Celtic Connections, Solas and Insider Festivals. She has collaborated with Norwegian hardanger fiddle player, Tuva Faerden, amongst many other internationals at the Strings of the World Festival in Delhi.
Su-a is also a founder member of the innovative music ensemble Mr McFall's Chamber. Beginning in 1996 by playing avant-garde string quartet music in late-night club venues, the group has grown to encompass an eclectic range of different traditions. Their diverse repertoire includes cartoon classics, through progressive rock, to jazz, tango nuevo and folk. Their recordings include the music of the late Celtic fusion pioneer Martyn Bennett, the Norwegian electronic jazz percussionist Thomas Strønen, and works of the idiosyncratic Dundee poet and songwriter, Michael Marra. They remain an important commissioning stimulus, with many composers on the roster, such as Errollyn Wallen, Gavin Bryars, James MacMillan, Eddie McGuire and Martin Suckling.
With a special passion for working with young musicians, Su-a regularly participates in SCO Connect's education and community work and works with dementia patients and adolescents with mental health problems. She has toured a very successful series of performances for babies with Reeling and Writhing Theatre. She is Patron-in-Chief of the Perth Youth Orchestra, a regular coach for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and for many years was a coach to the Icelandic National Youth Orchestra and Cambridge County Youth Orchestra. She is a tutor and workshop leader for the Benedetti Foundation which launched in Jan 2020.
Her examination experience includes the RCS (Recital Prize), St Mary’s Music School (Recital Prize) and BBC Young Musician of the Year (Scottish Region), as well as ongoing audition processes. In 2020 she was appointed to the post of Specialist External Examiner in the Trad Music Department of the RCS.
In 2019, she was presented with the Inspiration Award at the BBC Alba Trad Music Awards.
Su-a Lee is an Associate Member of the Martyn Bennett Trust, a Trustee of the Board of the Soundhouse Trust, the Nevis Ensemble and the Tinderbox Orchestra.