Okkyung Lee

New York based Korean cellist/improvisor/composer Okkyung Lee has spent last four years developing her own voice in improvising. As a classically trained cellist, she aims to examine the boundary of traditional role of cello by experimenting with extended techniques, sounds and noise incorporating contemporary classical music, Korean traditional music and jazz.

Okkyung has performed and/or worked with world renowned artists such as Derek Bailey, Anthony Coleman, Mark Dresser, Janene Higgins, Vijay Iyer, Eyvind Kang, Alonzo King, Christian Marclay, Kaffe Matthews, Raz Mesinai, Thurston Moore, Ikue Mori, Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris, Jim O'Rourke, Marc Ribot, Marina Rosenfeld, Zeena Parkins and John Zorn to name a few.

In addition to frequent solo performances and leading her own ensembles, she is involved with TOT trio with turntablist Toshio Kajiwara and Tim Barnes; an improvisational duo NoNo Twins with dancer/choreographer Heather Kravas; Vijay Iyer and Mike Ladd’s In What Language Project; Badawi by Raz Mesinai; Ted Reichman Ensemble.

Her recent notable appearances include 2003 la Biennale di Venezia in Italy, 2004 Taktlos Festival Der Zeitgenössisch Visionären Musik in Zürich and Basel, Switzerland and San Francisco Jazz Festival, 2004 and Time Based Arts Festival in Portland, Oregon in 2003.

She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Film Scoring/Contemporary Writing & Production from Berklee College of Music, and master's degree in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory of Music.