Jae Young Cosmos Lee, Radius Ensemble’s newest member on violin, loves hip-hop, lactose-free orange sherbet at JP Licks, and listening to Vivaldi in the morning. (Vivaldi’s combination of strings and harpsichord go perfectly with a cup of coffee, he says.) Jae was three and a half when he was handed a violin. If given a choice, he said, he would have played piano or timpani, mainly so that intonation difficulties would no longer exist. Even so, the violin has made his life “very rich,” giving him the versatility to use it in many genres and settings.
In a classical music world that increasingly offers fewer opportunities to play music regularly, Radius has been a positive outlet for Jae. The kind of concerts Radius presents and the unique “pizazz” of the group are among the drawing factors for him. (And, pianist Sarah Bob and cellist Miriam Bolkosky are longtime colleagues.)
On
Radius Ensemble's September 27 season opener, Jae will be playing Augusta Read Thomas’s “Pulsar” for solo violin. The title, he says, is embedded throughout the piece. It is the first of Thomas’s pieces he has played. “Motor-like,” “on the edge,” and “jarring,” are descriptions Jae uses. He compares the piece to an ab workout or a Jackie Chan sprawling session because of its perpetual intensity, large leaps between registers, and constantly changing meter. However, within the piece’s intensity are moments of reflection, and it is in these moments that there is a human quality to the work.
When asked what's on his own iPod, Jae reveals with enthusiasm his diverse tastes in music. He grew up listening to indie rock, including groups like the Pixies, and these days is a fan of Minneapolis hip-hop group called Atmosphere, who combine old school hip-hop with other types of flavors like jazz.
As for where he gets his lactose-free orange sherbet, his favorite local ice cream haunt is JP Licks (located in several of Boston area’s popular hot spots) because they offer lactose-free flavors. Being a lover of dairy but unable to eat it, having JP Licks "makes me really happy,” he says. Sounds to me like he'll evoke that happiness for the fans of Radius. Join us on September 27 at Killian Hall to hear Jae and Radius Ensemble open their tenth season.
The segment will air at 8:34 am (Morning Edition) and 5:44 pm (All Things Considered) on WGBH 89.7FM. The segment will also be streamed and archived at the Classical Connections website.
Sarah didn’t start off playing the flute. In the fourth grade, she played viola because it was “so easy.” Later on in band class, she chose the flute to avoid brass. By middle school, Sarah knew
she would be making music for a long time. In her undergraduate years she double-majored in flute and voice. While she never finished her voice degree, she “lives vicariously” through singers from the orchestra pit of the Opera Boston.
A large percentage of Sarah’s impressive career has been spent playing contemporary music in ensembles such as Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) and several others. She says that Radius, with whom she’s appeared several times in the past, gives her the opportunity to play a more diverse repertoire of music that spans more time periods, as well as a connection with old colleagues like pianist Sarah Bob.
In a classical music world that increasingly offers fewer opportunities to play music regularly, Radius has been a positive outlet for Jae. The kind of concerts Radius presents and the unique “pizazz” of the group are among the drawing factors for him. (And, pianist Sarah Bob and cellist Miriam Bolkosky are longtime colleagues.)