Earl Lee extends Music Director contract in Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) has announced the extension of Earl Lee’s contract as music director for an additional three seasons through 2030. Lee’s tenure will include the orchestra’s 100th anniversary in 2028.
As Music Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra since 2022, Lee has revitalized the ensemble’s artistic vision with programming that bridges tradition and innovation. His leadership blends a deep respect for the symphonic canon with a curiosity for new and diverse forms of expression, bringing a fresh sense of energy and purpose to the orchestra’s seasons. Under his artistic direction, the A2SO has presented bold repertoire alongside genre-crossing collaborations with artists such as Jacob Collier and Chris Thile, broadening the ensemble’s reach and musical scope. Works by Unsuk Chin, Tod Machover, György Kurtág, Katherine Balch, and Carlos Simon, among others, are regularly heard on Lee’s programs in Ann Arbor and beyond.
In addition, Lee has led the A2SO twice at Detroit's Symphony Hall during the annual Sphinx Congress. Guest soloists in recent seasons have included pianists Inon Barnatan, Eric Lu, and Yekwon Sunwoo, violinists Clara-Jumi Kang and Stefan Jackiw, and cellist Maximilian Hornung.
Among other highlights this season, Lee leads the A2SO in a performance of the Mozart Requiem co-presented by Ann Arbor’s University Musical Society and featuring major vocal soloists alongside the UMS Choral Union. The A2SO’s season also features the premiere of a co-commissioned new work by Nico Muhly and the orchestra’s first foray into live-to-picture movie presentation with Disney’s Frozen.
Outside of Ann Arbor, Lee continues his active career as a guest conductor with regular appearances with orchestras such as the Seoul Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra.