Lee Seul
Cellist
Introduction
I am cellist Lee Seul, who communicates with audiences through various performances and concert planning. Thanks to my mother, who understood the importance of art and cultural education from an early age, I was exposed to wonderful performances, concerts, art museums, and museums, which naturally led me to pursue music as my life's work. Among countless instruments, the cello's charm and comfortable vocal range attracted me, and my choice to play it has remained my dearest companion to this day.
My study abroad experience in Paris, France, the heart of art, in my mid-twenties, felt like opening a new chapter in my life as an artist. I witnessed the artistic synergy created by recognizing diversity and fostering interaction while preserving the unique qualities of various fields such as music, art, and philosophy. This experience intensified my desire to bring such artistic collaboration to Korea. I believe all arts ultimately converge, and I aspire to lead initiatives that connect diverse art forms to create richer synergy.
With this vision, I founded Les Bois Ensemble to break the conservative atmosphere and prejudices within the classical music market. My goal is to approach audiences while preserving the inherent identity and purity of classical music through new perspectives and endeavors. Les Bois Ensemble is currently pursuing various experiments and challenges towards this goal.
Highlights
Completed the Advanced Performance Course at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, France (레레호즈, this is likely a mistranslation or colloquial name, assuming Lyon as it's a prominent CNSMD)
Graduated from the Chamber Music Professional Performance Course at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Unanimously graduated from the Advanced Performance Course at the Conservatoire National de Région d'Rueil-Malmaison, France
Exclusive Cellist for MACOF, Association of French and Korean Artists
Principal Cellist of Ulsan Bukgu Orchestra
Member of IPB (Incorporated Association)
Exclusive Planner and Performer for Multi-Cultural Space 'Céllas'
Representative of Les Bois Ensemble
My Feelings About This Work
In my childhood, concerns like, 'What if the audience doesn't like my performance?' or 'What if I disappoint them with an inadequate performance?' often preoccupied me, and I believe these anxieties were reflected in my playing. However, through encountering many audiences and gaining experience, I realized that such worries were not solely mine to bear. Even if a performance wasn't entirely satisfactory to the performer, it could be the best performance of a lifetime for an audience member. I also learned that for some, my cello sound might be their first—or last—experience with the instrument.
Since that realization, I've come to believe that the most important thing is to deliver my most sincere story through the voice of the cello, with utmost sincerity and dedication to every audience member I meet. The moment the audience's initial rational gaze transforms into a warm, understanding look halfway through the performance, that's when I, as a cellist, feel the greatest exhilaration, happiness, and gratitude.
Interview
Q. What is your most memorable place and experience in nature in Korea?
Two years ago, I vividly remember visiting Tongyeong immediately after returning to Korea. It was a trip to see a performance by the world-renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos. The next morning, the beauty and refreshing atmosphere of the Tongyeong sea that followed the performance was a special feeling that I could only experience in Korea.
Though a small city, its beautifully sprawling harbor and sea, along with the people and food that harmonized with them, immediately cured my homesickness upon my return to Korea. Furthermore, the fact that this beautiful city boasts a world-class concert hall and hosts esteemed musicians annually brought me a fresh sense of pride and profound emotion.
Q. What does nature mean to you?
It can be described as inspiration and refreshment. Since my profession constantly requires me to meet diverse audiences and present myself before them, there are energies I gain from people, but also stresses. Additionally, as the daily routine of performing, teaching, and performing again repeats, I believe artists must be wary of falling into mannerism.
At such times, the absolute feeling and energy that cannot be received from people belong to nature. I believe there is a healing aspect that nature provides. That's why, when I occasionally allow myself the leisure to feel nature, I gain thoughts and inspirations I couldn't typically access.
Moreover, emotions that were unconsciously steeped in my daily life are swept away, and I feel completely refreshed. When I'm caught up in trivial matters and things aren't going well in various aspects, I remind myself that I am also a part of nature; letting go and entrusting myself to it brings back much better energy.
In that sense, our 'Les Bois Ensemble' also holds a deeper meaning, as 'Les Bois' means 'the woods' or 'the trees' in French. By playing instruments crafted from wood, born and grown in nature and then refined, we wish to convey the feelings and meanings experienced in nature to people through our music. This idea aligns perfectly with what nature means to me.
Q. What do you hope people feel from your performance?
I deeply wish to connect with the audience through music, sharing emotions through unspoken dialogue. Just as there are joys, sorrows, pleasures, and angers in life, I don't believe music should only convey positive, beautiful, or joyful emotions. Even if we meet as strangers in the concert hall, I hope that during the performance, music and instruments are not just tools, but a medium for genuine communication, where the performer and listener engage in dialogue and share feelings.
I hope these moments become a space where we collectively experience the spectrum of human emotions I express in the music, and where we respond to and understand each other through our gaze. And I sincerely hope that even after the performance concludes, as the audience leaves the hall, they carry not just a lingering impression, but a deep resonance and a new understanding within their hearts.
Inquire About Custom Courses
Lee Seul
Cellist
Introduction
I am cellist Lee Seul, who communicates with audiences through various performances and concert planning. Thanks to my mother, who understood the importance of art and cultural education from an early age, I was exposed to wonderful performances, concerts, art museums, and museums, which naturally led me to pursue music as my life's work. Among countless instruments, the cello's charm and comfortable vocal range attracted me, and my choice to play it has remained my dearest companion to this day.
My study abroad experience in Paris, France, the heart of art, in my mid-twenties, felt like opening a new chapter in my life as an artist. I witnessed the artistic synergy created by recognizing diversity and fostering interaction while preserving the unique qualities of various fields such as music, art, and philosophy. This experience intensified my desire to bring such artistic collaboration to Korea. I believe all arts ultimately converge, and I aspire to lead initiatives that connect diverse art forms to create richer synergy.
With this vision, I founded Les Bois Ensemble to break the conservative atmosphere and prejudices within the classical music market. My goal is to approach audiences while preserving the inherent identity and purity of classical music through new perspectives and endeavors. Les Bois Ensemble is currently pursuing various experiments and challenges towards this goal.
Highlights
Completed the Advanced Performance Course at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, France (레레호즈, this is likely a mistranslation or colloquial name, assuming Lyon as it's a prominent CNSMD)
Graduated from the Chamber Music Professional Performance Course at the Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Unanimously graduated from the Advanced Performance Course at the Conservatoire National de Région d'Rueil-Malmaison, France
Exclusive Cellist for MACOF, Association of French and Korean Artists
Principal Cellist of Ulsan Bukgu Orchestra
Member of IPB (Incorporated Association)
Exclusive Planner and Performer for Multi-Cultural Space 'Céllas'
Representative of Les Bois Ensemble
My Feelings About This Work
In my childhood, concerns like, 'What if the audience doesn't like my performance?' or 'What if I disappoint them with an inadequate performance?' often preoccupied me, and I believe these anxieties were reflected in my playing. However, through encountering many audiences and gaining experience, I realized that such worries were not solely mine to bear. Even if a performance wasn't entirely satisfactory to the performer, it could be the best performance of a lifetime for an audience member. I also learned that for some, my cello sound might be their first—or last—experience with the instrument.
Since that realization, I've come to believe that the most important thing is to deliver my most sincere story through the voice of the cello, with utmost sincerity and dedication to every audience member I meet. The moment the audience's initial rational gaze transforms into a warm, understanding look halfway through the performance, that's when I, as a cellist, feel the greatest exhilaration, happiness, and gratitude.
Interview
Q. What is your most memorable place and experience in nature in Korea?
Two years ago, I vividly remember visiting Tongyeong immediately after returning to Korea. It was a trip to see a performance by the world-renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos. The next morning, the beauty and refreshing atmosphere of the Tongyeong sea that followed the performance was a special feeling that I could only experience in Korea.
Though a small city, its beautifully sprawling harbor and sea, along with the people and food that harmonized with them, immediately cured my homesickness upon my return to Korea. Furthermore, the fact that this beautiful city boasts a world-class concert hall and hosts esteemed musicians annually brought me a fresh sense of pride and profound emotion.
Q. What does nature mean to you?
It can be described as inspiration and refreshment. Since my profession constantly requires me to meet diverse audiences and present myself before them, there are energies I gain from people, but also stresses. Additionally, as the daily routine of performing, teaching, and performing again repeats, I believe artists must be wary of falling into mannerism.
At such times, the absolute feeling and energy that cannot be received from people belong to nature. I believe there is a healing aspect that nature provides. That's why, when I occasionally allow myself the leisure to feel nature, I gain thoughts and inspirations I couldn't typically access.
Moreover, emotions that were unconsciously steeped in my daily life are swept away, and I feel completely refreshed. When I'm caught up in trivial matters and things aren't going well in various aspects, I remind myself that I am also a part of nature; letting go and entrusting myself to it brings back much better energy.
In that sense, our 'Les Bois Ensemble' also holds a deeper meaning, as 'Les Bois' means 'the woods' or 'the trees' in French. By playing instruments crafted from wood, born and grown in nature and then refined, we wish to convey the feelings and meanings experienced in nature to people through our music. This idea aligns perfectly with what nature means to me.
Q. What do you hope people feel from your performance?
I deeply wish to connect with the audience through music, sharing emotions through unspoken dialogue. Just as there are joys, sorrows, pleasures, and angers in life, I don't believe music should only convey positive, beautiful, or joyful emotions. Even if we meet as strangers in the concert hall, I hope that during the performance, music and instruments are not just tools, but a medium for genuine communication, where the performer and listener engage in dialogue and share feelings.
I hope these moments become a space where we collectively experience the spectrum of human emotions I express in the music, and where we respond to and understand each other through our gaze. And I sincerely hope that even after the performance concludes, as the audience leaves the hall, they carry not just a lingering impression, but a deep resonance and a new understanding within their hearts.
Inquire About Custom Courses