South Korean improviser and composer: Okkyung Lee has been a mainstay of the New York improv scene for many years. The exploratory cellist, composer and improviser has an enviable roster of musical collaborations and releases under her belt. Okkyung returned to her native South Korea in 2020, opening up new collaborative possibilities with Korean improvisers and traditional music players. 

As a composer her large-scale work has featured at the prestigious Donaueschingen Music Days, and she has just premiered new work with the UK based Explore Ensemble and a new multichannel composition for INA/GRM in Paris. Renowned for her extended performance technique and absolute integrity to sonic exploration, as composer Okkyung’s work also interrogates ideas of beauty and modes of collaboration.

Sitting the players of BIT20 in the middle of the majestic 13th Century Håkonshallen, the acoustic work “Skylight” written for a large ensemble is a new departure in Okkyung’s compositional world.

Venue Håkonshallen
Date 16th of March
Time 7 PM

The piece is commissioned by Borealis with support from Arts and Culture Norway.
The concert is a collaboration between Borealis and BIT20 Ensemble.
Photo: Eun Chun