Following a competitive application process, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir named Jennifer Min-Young Lee as the incoming associate conductor for Fall 2015. Jennifer will hold this two-year position for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. During her tenure she will work closely with Artistic Director Noel Edison and will conduct the Choir in rehearsal and in concert.
Artistic Director Noel Edison commented, “Jennifer is eager to work with an ensemble of the size and level of the Mendelssohn, and I know the singers will enjoy her skill and vibrancy. I look forward to working with her over the next two seasons.”
Jennifer is an active conductor, music educator and soprano in the greater Toronto area. She currently sings with the Exultate Chamber Singers and works as an apprentice conductor with Orchestra Toronto. Equally dedicated to music education, she is in her sixth year teaching high school music where she directs choral and wind ensembles. Her ensembles regularly perform at festivals in Canada, the United States and Europe.
In May 2014, Jennifer completed her Master of Music degree in Conducting at the Eastman School of Music where she studied choral conducting with William Weinert and orchestral conducting with Brad Lubman. She also studied voice and vocal pedagogy with Robert McIver and worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for both conducting and voice departments. Jennifer holds Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Western Ontario, London.
Jennifer has worked with the complete spectrum of voices, from children and youth choirs, through university and community choirs, to professional choirs. Her passion and dedication toward youth education led her to work with the Bach Chamber Youth Choir for five seasons and the Ontario Youth Choir for its 2011 season as an assistant conductor. In Rochester, Jennifer conducted numerous ensembles including Eastman Chorale, Repertory Singers, Eastman Chamber Singers, Bach Cantata Series, Women’s Chorus and Graduate Orchestra. In addition to school responsibilities, she served as a music director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Rochester.
She has participated in numerous choral/wind/orchestral conducting festivals and master classes with world-renowned conductors and mentors such as Joseph Flummerfelt, Simon Carrington, Hilary Apfelstadt, Mark Scatterday, Neil Varon, Timothy Reynish and Craig Kirchoff. Jennifer participated in the 2013 TMC Choral Conductors’ Symposium. Most recently, she participated at the Yale University’s Norfolk Chamber Festival both as a conductor and a singer for two seasons in Norfolk, Connecticut.
The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir looks forward to welcoming Jennifer to rehearsals in September 2015.