An advocate of contemporary music written by composers of his generation, Mr. Lee has premiered numerous new works ranging from solo to orchestral and contributed to the addition of over 30 works. Current projects include commissioning and premiering new saxophone concertos by Eric Funk and Joel Love. As well as solo performances, Mr. Lee is an avid orchestral saxophonist collaborating with numerous conductors, such as Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, Philippe Entremont, Eiji Oue, and Norman Huynh. He has appeared with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, and Bozeman Symphony. Prior to moving to Bozeman, Mr. Lee served as a principal saxophonist of the New York Wind Orchestra.
As a clinician, Mr. Lee continuously engages in masterclasses and lectures in the U.S. and Asia, sharing his expertise in saxophone pedagogy with aspiring young saxophonists. Recent appearances include Tokyo College of Music, Korea National University of Arts, and Juilliard School. Currently, Mr. Lee holds teaching positions at Montana State University, where he is an Assistant Professor of Saxophone and at Manhattan School of Music, where he is a faculty member of the pre-college division. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
Mr. Lee’s artistic mission is to share the sheer beauty of the saxophone tone and its music to enrich the lives of listeners. As a Yamaha Performing Artist, Mr. Lee has given recitals showcasing Yamaha custom saxophones and explore their potentials through performing significant works for the saxophone. He exclusively plays the Yamaha Custom 875 EX saxophones.
Described by New York Concert Review as “A knockout performance,” classical saxophonist Wonki Lee has distinguished himself as one of the leading saxophonists of his generation.