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Artist Biographies
Christopher James Lees, conductor
Christopher James Lees was named Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony in 2018.
Emerging American conductor Christopher James Lees brings passionate and nuanced orchestral performances to the stage, a fierce commitment to contemporary music, and a natural charisma to audiences all around the world.
In 2018, Mr. Lees began an appointment as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition to the more than 50 annual concert appearances with the CSO, he has stepped in to conduct Subscription Classical performances on four occasions, including a gala weekend with Grammy Award winning artist and Jazz legend Branford Marsalis in May 2021.
An active guest conductor, Mr. Lees has returned for performances with the Los Angeles and Rochester Philharmonics, the Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Portland, and Flint Symphonies, and conducted debuts with the Indianapolis, Kansas City, Toledo, and Vermont Symphonies. Additional engagements have taken him to the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra de Chambre de Paris, Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and at the Music in the Mountains Festival & Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão in Brazil.
Only the second American Gustavo Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mr. Lees made his debut with the orchestra in April 2013 and returned for concerts in February 2015.
A dedicated advocate for music of our time, Mr. Lees has premiered more than one hundred fifty new works by a diverse range of composers, and collaborated closely with Pulitzer Prize winners John Adams, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Caroline Shaw, Roger Reynolds, and Julia Wolfe.
An equally passionate advocate for music education, Mr. Lees has brought inspirational energy to student orchestras across the country, from the Colburn School to the New England Conservatory, and previously served on the faculties of the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Joy Ni, violin
This concert marks Ms. Ni’s first appearance with the Charlotte Symphony.
Violinist Joy Ni is the 2021 winner of The Symphony Guild of Charlotte’s Young Artists Competition. As part of the Grand Prize, Joy has been invited to perform a selection from Bruch’s Concerto for Violin No. 1 with the Charlotte Symphony at today’s performance.
Joy Ni is a freshman attending Fort Mill High School in South Carolina. She began playing the violin at the age of 6 and currently studies privately with Ara Gregorian from East Carolina University and Violet Pan of Tega Cay, SC.
Joy has previously won Grand Prize in both the Intermediate and Advanced divisions of the Charlotte Symphony Guild’s Young Artist Competition. She has been a part of the CSYO since 2018, and has played in masterclasses for CSO guest artists Angelou Yu and Paul Huang. In her spare time, Joy relishes creating artwork and other innovations using different media and inspirations.
2021 YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION WINNERS
Grand Prize Winner Advanced Level: Joy Ni
Grand Prize Winner Intermediate Level: Ellie Dixon
Honorable Mention Advanced Level/Open Division: Anthony Yang
Honorable Mention Advance Level/Orchestral Division: Audrey Kim
Honorable Mention Intermediate Level/Both Divisions: Samuel Han
Essay Competition Advanced Level: Jana Pak
Essay Competition Intermediate Level: Angelina Quan
This year’s competition also featured excellent performances by finalists: Martha-Grace Jackson, Skyla Kiang, Annie Liu, Cadence Shevy, Caleb Shin, Shirley Tian, Aaron Wang
