In 2014, I interviewed Korean conductor Jae Joon Lee, for my classical radio program, Culture Carousel in DZFE-fm. It was an honor for me to interview such a man, Maestro Jae Joon Lee, who dedicated his life to educate young students because for him, the youth is the light of the future.
Maestro Lee, are you challenged every time you conduct?
What do you feel every time you conduct an orchestra?
I occasionally conduct different orchestras and each orchestra has a different character, with different cultural background. So that’s really a challenge for me. But I would rather work with different orchestras, rather than just conduct one orchestra. I really enjoy working with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, because they have a lot of passion and potential to play good music.
How does one become a good conductor like yourself?
I don’t think I am a good conductor. But I try to be. I think to be a good conductor, you really need to know a lot about music — musical terms, how to make phrasing, historical background of the composer. A good conductor should also know how to make relationship with players. A conductor is not a commander, but he/she should know what is most valuable in the relationship with the orchestra — it’s not just pushing them to make music. We need to have cooperation with each other, human relations.
How do you conceptualize the program for each concert?
It depends. For example, if it is a gala concert, I make it in line with the kind of audience that will watch. But if it is an authentic concert, I focus more on the music itself. It is my responsibility to give the audience an enlightenment through our music. Some classical musicians say that music should educate the people, but I have a different opinion. Our music should be able to impress even those who watch it for the first time. As long as we make beautiful music then that will work for the audience. We have to dig in and sacrifice, so we can make beautiful music.
What is your most important mission in your life as a musician today?
When I was young, I just wanted to be a conductor, a maestro. But now, I pretty much changed my life’s goal, which is more focus in teaching young students, because they are the light of our future.
You and I, we will die sooner or later. We have to focus on the next generation, in order to develop our musical future. There are so many good students in the UST, that’s why I keep coming here and try to share my experience with young students. When I was Music Director of the Cuban National Opera Company, I saw the Latin America Youth Orchestra concert with the late conductor, Claudio Abbado. Even if he had cancer, he still conducted the youth orchestra for free. It was a 140 youth orchestra and they played Mahler’s Symphony, I was so impressed. That music, I never heard a student orchestra, made that kind of music, in such a high level.
So I made a decision, I would dedicate my life to educate young students. That’s my big vision for the rest of my life and that’s why I founded the International Youth Orchestra Study Group in Philadelphia.