About

Chansoo Lee is a professional Korean traditional percussionist who has dedicated his entire life to Pungmul and Samulnori, which are the traditional and contemporary genres, respectively, of Korean folk drumming rooted in ancient agricultural village life and ritual. He began studying Korean drumming in 2003, and went on to obtain his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Korean music from Sehan University. He has performed at reputable venues across Korea and has won numerous competitions, including the 36th Jeonju Daesaseup National Competition, where he was awarded the Presidential Award and the rare honor of exemption from Korea’s mandatory military service. In his artistic practice, he places great emphasis on preserving and respecting tradition, especially as an apprentice of Lee Kwang Soo, one of the original masters of Samulnori.

Chansoo Lee joined KPAC as an Artist in Residence in 2016. Since then, he has taught and performed all over the US. In 2018, he staged a full-length solo concert Chosim (meaning “beginner’s mind”) in which he revisited and elevated the fundamental elements of Korean percussion music. He now serves KPAC as its Director of Education, designing and implementing curriculum for KPAC’s percussion programs.