Composer Spotlight-Jee Seo

Get to Know...Jee Seo

Korean Composer Jee Seo was a finalist in this year’s solo flute category for On Fever. Jee is originally from Seoul, South Korea but currently resides in New York City.  Jee shared with us a fascinating mixed media collaboration from the 2017 DangDangDang Festival which featured a live performance of On Fever (flutist Moe Yamashita) combined with media and mime. The performance occurred in an abandoned coal mine! It’s a really fascinating concept and Moe Yamashita’s performance in incredible! A mythical narrative collaboration, On Fever is about the extreme contrast of hot (fever, passion, fire) and cold (flute instrument, cave), which represents Jee or his music. Flute is an oldest instrument vs. cave is an archetype space. He is always seeking to write music with a new interpretation of the origin. 

Q&A with Jee…
Who is your favorite "new music" composer and why?
György Kurtág (1926- ). I believe that he is most sincere composer in this era.
 
Describe your musical background and current activities.
Fortunately, I was able to have various musical experiences from an early age under the influence of my parents. I am currently based in NYC and concentrating on my composition now and also working in collaboration with artists.
 
Do you have any upcoming events that you would like our friends and followers to know about?
My violin duo piece (Four Pieces for Two Violins) is scheduled to be performed in Boston and Siena, Italy at the beginning of next year.
 
More About Jee…
 Jee SEO (b.1985) is a Korean composer currently based in New York City. Jee began his international career and was awarded prizes at the Val Tidone International Music Competition “Egidio Carella” Composition Competition in Casa Berni (Italy), the International Antonin Dvorak Composition Competition in Prague (Czech Rep.) and the International Composers’ Forum and Competition BRUNO MADERNA in Lviv (Ukraine).
 
His works have been selected and performed at festivals including C.A.T. Ensemble Call for Scores in Siena (Italy), Call for Scores Risuonanze2017 in Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), The Boston New Music Initiative Call for Scores in Boston (USA), KALEIDOSCOPE Chamber Orchestra Call for Scores in Los Angeles (USA), Call for Collaborative Project Ensemble Móbile in Curitiba (Brazil), The International Symposium of New Music in Curitiba (Brazil), International Delian Academy for New Music in Mykonos (Greece), Aldebaran Music Festival in Brescia (Italy), and Hawaii Public Radio Art Song Contest (USA). His works are published by Aldebaran Editions (Italy), Ablaze Records (USA).
 
Jee is currently working toward a  in Master of Music degree at Manhattan School of Music in NYC.

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