R. Andrew Lee (born 1982, in

Excelsior Springs, Missouri Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 10,553 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Miss ...

) is an American pianist of contemporary classical music, with a particular emphasis on

Minimal music Minimal music (also called minimalism)"Minimalism in music has been defined as an aesthetic, a style, and a technique, each of which has been a suitable description of the term at certain points in the development of minimal music. However, two ...

and music of the

Wandelweiser The Wandelweiser Group is a composition school, collective for composers and performers of contemporary classical music. Inspired by the work of John Cage, the Wandelweiser Group writes experimental music, which is typically of a very quiet nature ...

collective. He has recorded ten albums for

Irritable Hedgehog Music Irritable Hedgehog Music is a Kansas City-based record label, focused primarily on minimalist and electroacoustic music. History Irritable Hedgehog Music was original organized as the publishing imprint for David D. McIntire's compositions. The i ...

Education

R. Andrew Lee received a BM in piano performance from

Truman State University Truman State University (TSU or Truman) is a Public university, public Liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Kirksville, Missouri, United States. It had 3,664 enrolled students in the fall of 2024 pursuing degrees in 55 undergraduate ...

in 2004, where he studied under Dr. David McKamie. He continued his education in piano performance at the

University of Missouri-Kansas City A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...

, where he met David McIntire, with whom he would eventually help launch

. Lee cites McIntire as having introduced him to William Duckworth's ''The Time Curve Preludes,'' which sparked his interest in minimalist music. Lee received his MM in 2006 and his DMA in 2011 from UMKC.

Career

R. Andrew Lee began his career as Artist-in-Residence at

Avila University Avila University is a Private university, private Catholic university in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. It is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. Its 13 buildings are s ...

in Kansas City, Missouri in January 2009. On 30 October 2010, he released his first album with

, ''Tom Johnson: An Hour for Piano''. This album, the first recording of An Hour for Piano to be exactly one hour, also marked the first release for Irritable Hedgehog. In August 2011, Lee took a position at

Regis University Regis University ( ) is a Private university, private List of Jesuit educational institutions, Jesuit university in Denver, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1877 by the Jesuits, Society of Jesus, the university offers more than 120 degrees th ...

in Denver, Colorado, becoming the Associate University Minister for Liturgical & Sacred Music. There he oversees music for liturgical celebrations while also teaching in the music department. Lee continued to record for Irritable Hedgehog, garnering increasing attention from critics. His third album, ''William Duckworth: The Time Curve Preludes'' was named by a 2012 Critics' Choice by

Gramophone Magazine ''Gramophone'' (known as ''The Gramophone'' prior to 1970) is a magazine published monthly in London, devoted to classical music, particularly to reviews of recordings. It was founded in 1923 by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie who continue ...

. His fifth album, ''Dennis Johnson: November'' was named by Steve Smith of ''Time Out NY'' as the best classical album of 2013, and his sixth album, '' Eva-Maria Houben: Piano Music'' was selected by

Alex Ross Nelson Alexander Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an American comic book creator, comic book writer and artist known primarily for his painted interiors, covers, and design work. He first became known with the 1994 miniseries ''Marvels'', on which ...

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...

as one of ten notable classical recordings of 2013. Lee has performed across the United States, including cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, Chicago, Boston and New York. He has also performed abroad in Canada, England, France, Belgium, and Italy. As a performer, Lee has taken an interest in music of an extended duration, performing and commissioning works that are often multiple hours long.

Writing

The intersection of temporality is a primary research avenue for R. Andrew Lee, having published work with the CeReNeM Journal. Lee also writes reviews and opinion pieces for

NewMusicBox ''NewMusicBox'' is an e-zine launched by the American Music Center on May 1, 1999. The magazine includes interviews and articles concerning American contemporary music, composers, improvisers, and musicians. A few interviews include renown ...

and I CARE IF YOU LISTEN.

Personal life

Lee currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and three children. He takes "grilling and drinking seriously" and also notes a "penchant for interesting socks."

Discography

*'' Michael Waller: Moments'' - 2019 *''Bryan Christian: Each Flows Into the Other'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2019 *''Randy Gibson: Equal D under Resonating Apparitions of The Eternal Process in The Midwinter Starfield 16 VIII 10 (Kansas City)'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2017 *'' Michael Waller: Trajectories'' - 2017 (with Seth Parker Woods, cello) *''Gibson Knight EP'' - 2017 *''

Erik Satie Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (born 17 May 18661 July 1925), better known as Erik Satie, was a French composer and pianist. The son of a French father and a British mother, he studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, Paris Conservatoire but was an undi ...

: By and After Satie'' - 2017 *''Ryan Oldham: Inner Monologues'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2017 *''

Adrian Knight Adrian Knight is a Canadian actor who was the voice for the character Tao in the English-language version of the animated series ''The Mysterious Cities of Gold''. He also voiced Telemachus in the series ''Ulysses 31'', Pot the troll in the se ...

: Obsessions'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2016 *''Paul A. Epstein: Piano Music'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2015 *'' Jay Batzner: as if to each other'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2015 *''Jürg Frey: Pianist, Alone'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2014 *''Eva-Maria Houben: Piano Music'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2013 *''

Dennis Johnson Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007), nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics. He was a c ...

: November'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2013 *''Jürg Frey: Piano Music'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2012 *'' William Duckworth: The Time Curve Preludes'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2011 *''

Ann Southam Ann Southam, (4 February 1937 – 25 November 2010) was a Canadian electronic and classical music composer and music teacher. She is known for her minimalist, iterative, and lyrical style, for her long-term collaborations with dance choreograp ...

: Soundings for a New Piano'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2011 *'' Tom Johnson: An Hour for Piano'' - Irritable Hedgehog Music, 2010

References

External links

Official WebsiteIrritable Hedgehog LabelInterview on The Next Track podcast
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, R. Andrew 1982 births 21st-century American classical pianists American classical pianists American male classical pianists Avant-garde pianists Living people Avila University faculty American male pianists 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century American pianists