Newly appointed Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and former Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), Earl Lee is a renowned Korean- Canadian performer who creates powerful, emotional experiences for audiences worldwide. Earl’s passion for music is reflected in his diverse career as both a conductor and a cellist, appearing on major concert hall stages across the globe. Highlights from the 2018-2019 season include: leading the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, returning engagements with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and debut performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Dedicated to sharing music beyond the concert hall and with the community at large, Lee is passionately engaged in student, outreach and run-out concerts as he firmly believes in music’s ability to nourish, inspire, and heal. With the TSO, Lee played a key role in programming and scripting student concerts and performed for thousands of students annually. As a cellist, Lee performed in numerous run-out concerts with the goal of bringing the joys of music making to people in retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and churches.

As a cellist, Lee has toured with the acclaimed Chick Corea Gary Burton Duo as a guest member of the Harlem String Quartet in 2012. Lee performed in many notable series and venues during this tour including Symphony Hall in Boston, Maison symphonique de Montréal and the iconic Blue Note jazz club in New York City. As a passionate chamber musician, Lee has toured all over the United States as part of such ensembles as Musicians from Marlboro. Lee’s cello performance frequently appears on major radio programs including the St. Paul Sunday. Lee has performed at prestigious summer festivals such as Marlboro Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire, Caramoor Rising Stars, and Ravinia’s Steans Institute. He is currently a member of a conductor-less chamber ensemble, the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO).

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School with degrees in cello, Earl began his conducting studies in 2010 studying with Ignat Solzhenitsyn. In 2013, Lee received his Masters in Conducting from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with George Manahan. Lee continued his post-graduate conducting studies at the New England Conservatory with Hugh Wolff prior to starting his tenure with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Earl Lee Music Director

Craig Johnson Executive Director

Craig Johnson has been the Executive Director of PYSO since November 2000. He graduated from Norwin High School, then earned degrees from Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University. While a student at Duquesne, he played in the flute section of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. As a flutist, Mr. Johnson played in the pit orchestras of the Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Ballet for fourteen years and was Principal Flute with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra until 2009.

Eve Goodman Program Coordinator

Personnel Manager/Librarian

Eve Goodman serves in various capacities for PYSO: as Program Coordinator, Personnel Manager, and Librarian. She grew up in Boston, where she played violin in the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. She received her BS in Music with a concentration in arranging and guitar from Berklee College of Music. After ten years of songwriting and performing in Nashville, Ms. Goodman moved to Pittsburgh to work with PYSO.

PYSO Parents Association Officers

Stephanie Ya-Fei Hsu Mary Carr Joy Fanien Schulte-Albert Vice President Secretary Treasurer

President