About

Seoyong Lee, a bass-baritone from South Korea, is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati. He holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Dr. Jonathan Retzlaff, and a Master of Music from Northwestern University under W. Stephen Smith.

In the 2023/24 season, Mr. Lee made his company debut with Chautauqua Opera as an Apprentice Artist. His performances included the title role in Pepito and covering the role of the Father in Hansel and Gretel, both conducted by Maestro Steven Osgood. Additionally, he was featured as Figaro, Don Quichotte, and Pinkerton in a Pops concert at the Chautauqua Amphitheater. Lee also made his debut as the bass soloist in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Rossen Milanov. At CCM, Lee made his mainstage debut as Harasta in The Cunning Little Vixen (Příhody lišky Bystroušky). With Cincinnati Opera, he performed the role of Ginger Chap in Missy Mazzoli’s Lincoln in the Bardo as part of Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW), ahead of its world premiere at LA Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in 2025.

While at Northwestern University, Mr. Lee performed a variety of opera roles, including the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro, Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Colline in La Bohème, and Grandpa Moss in The Tender Land. He was also featured in oratorio performances under the direction of Maestro Dr. Stephen Alltop, including Fauré's Requiem, Bach's Cantata Concert, and Terra Nostra. His Master’s recital featured a diverse repertoire, including Robert Schumann’s Liederkreis, Op. 24, John Duke’s Three Gothic Ballads, and Jacques Ibert’s Chansons de Don Quichotte.

At the Eastman School of Music, where he earned his first degree, Mr. Lee made his opera debut as Der Tod in Der Kaiser von Atlantis during his junior year. Other roles he performed at Eastman include Jimmy in Mahagonny Songspiel, Puppet Master in Postcard from Morocco, and Henry B in The Mother of Us All in Kodak Hall. He also performed as a bass soloist in several oratorio works under Dr. William Weinert, including Handel’s Messiah and Bach's St. John Passion and Cantata BWV 110.

Driven by a passion for making opera more accessible to modern audiences, Mr. Lee has expanded his artistry to include opera directing, studying under Robin Guarino. He made his directorial debut in 2024 as the associate director of CCM’s mainstage production of La hija de Rappaccini and will continue in this capacity for A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2025. Additionally, he remains committed to performing contemporary opera, recently premiering the roles of Woodcutter and covering Outlaw in the Midwest premiere of Christopher Cerrone’s In a Grove.