Martin Lee’s Biography
Martin Lee is currently a Ph. D. candidate (ABD) in Music Theory at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. He is recipient of College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Fellowship, Teaching Assistantship and Graduate Tuition Scholarship from the University at Buffalo (2003-2007). Lee was a lecturer of music theory since 2006, teaching general education course Theory of Music for Non-Majors. In 2007 Fall semester, he taught the graduate course Introduction to Graduate Theory. He is now finishing his dissertation on Olivier Messiaen’s sacred music.
Lee has given papers and posters on Messiaen and Schoenberg at international and regional conferences, including the International Conference: “Messiaen the Theologian” hosted at Boston University, the Summer Workshop: Music, Language and Movement in East Sussex (UK), the Second International Conference on Music and Gesture, Dublin International Conference on Music Analysis, Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic, Joint Meeting of the West Coast Conference of Music Theory and Analysis, Rocky Mountain Society for Music Theory, College Music Society Pacific Central Chapter, and Departments of Music at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong.
Before studying at the University at Buffalo, Lee finished his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Besides doing and teaching music theory, he is also an active violinist. He was a violinist in UB Symphony Orchestra, UB Contemporary Music Ensemble, Chung Chi Orchestra (CUHK), Hong Kong Stage Ensemble, New Philharmonia of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Music Institute Orchestra, and China Symphony Orchestra. In 2000, he was the guest violinist in Japanese Amateur Orchestra (Youth Orchestra). His major violin teachers include Dr. Movses Pogossian, Ms Ho Hong Ying, Mr. Wong Wai Ming, Mr. Ng Ka Ming, and Mr. Wong Chiu Tan.
In June 2008, Lee returned to Hong Kong after his doctoral study in the United States. While he is finishing his Messiaen dissertation in Hong Kong, he is also an active scholar, program note writer for professional music groups, music theory and violin teacher.
Currently, Lee is a lecturer at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (SCPE) and the Macao Polytechnic Institute. He has been appointed as the Aural Skills and Music Theory Instructor in Macao Children’s Choir. He is also an instructor at the School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SCS, Chinese University of Hong Kong) and the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE, University of Hong Kong). He also serves as an Examiner at the International Baccalaureate Organization. Recently, he is appointed as the conductor of the String Orchestra at the St. Mark’s School.
Research interests: Messiaen’s birdsong writings and color chords, theological influence on Messiaen’s music, post-tonal theory and voice-leading, and Schoenberg’s atonality.
Updated on 20th November 2009
Biography
