Who Is He?
Bass-baritone Lee Doo-young entered in 1998 and graduated from Chungnam National University. Bass-baritone is the low-register-voice near the bass of a man’s baritone. After graduating, he went to Italy and studied there for 8 years. In Italy, he passed the National Conservatoire and came back to Korea in 2012. Now, he gives recitals, performs in operas
with other vocalists, directs and teaches chorus at Jeonju Art High School.
1. How Did He Start with Vocal Music?
When he was ten, his music teacher taught him a song called “Waiting Mind.” While he was singing the song, his heart pounded with excitement and he felt a thrill. At that time, he wanted to be like a person who sings “Waiting Mind.” The real chance to sing came to him at middle school. In the last semester of middle school, the music teacher changed into a new one who specialized in voice. The teacher encouraged him to do vocal music, so he began training and went to a high school for the arts. It was the beginning of his vocal life.
2. How about Undergraduate Years?
When he was a freshman, he wondered a lot about a bad experience. It was the event when he ruined the accompanied performance with the Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Because of this experience, he lost confidence and got stage fright. He didn’t want to do anything and felt pessimism about his voice, so he went into the military to escape. However, in the military, he talked to other vocalists and as time went by, he overcame his anxiety. After being discharged, he came back to his original position and did his best to recover. Hence, while in college, he practiced and studied hard. Even during vacation, he spent time in the practice room and did everything related with voice. It was helpful, but he felt a lack of enjoyment of the campus life like other friends.
It was the opera which was performed at the sixtieth Chungnam National University’s anniversary. He came to Korea from Italy for this performance. He wanted to do well because it was held in his alma mater and it was an accompanied performance with juniors at CNU. He thought his juniors took a close look at him as he looked at his seniors in that way. In addition, it was the first time when he sang officially in Korea. The performance was important to him in many ways. It was overstretchedand he trembled, but he finished it well without any mistakes. Even now, if he thinks about his juniors who listen to his songs, he gets nervous and becomes suddenly tense. However, certainly, it was a valuable and precious moment.
4. How about His Life in Italy?
He really wanted to study in another country for a long time. After he graduated from CNU, he attended the National Conservatoire of Italy. However, the teacher didn’t match well with him, so he changed the school after two years. Fortunately, his next teacher was good to him. Hence, he graduated from Conservatoire in three years (actually it was a five-year process). He performed in some operas, did performances, and came back to Korea. During those 8 years, he was under stress because he didn’t win a prize in two years, but he never gave up and the time of 8 year stay that he
spent in Italy was important to him.
5. What Does He Do for His Job?
He studied and read music. Some students think that he didn’t sing songs, but he sang, too. However, he said, “When a vocalist performs, the point which determines the quality of the show is how much he studies and understands the music. The song is the result of studying.” Therefore, he studies to understand composer’s intention and analyses characters. Also, another thing is doing well on the stage. Because the most important thing to the audience is how great the singer’s song is on the stage, rather than how many times the singer had practiced it.
6. What Does He Want to Do in the Future?
If he has the opportunity, he wants to make an opera. Many people think opera is difficult and boring, but good direction
can cover it and makes opera interesting and friendly like a musical. He wants opera to look interesting so that people will enjoy it more and more. Another thing that he wants to do is to go to Africa and to share his talent. After his retirement, he hopes to use his talent meaningfully to people who are needy. The children of Africa rarely have music lessons, so he wants to teach voice and music and give the children the benefits of his musical culture.
If students can’t enjoy their campus life and only study, they will feel so sad when they graduate from the university. While being an undergraduate, try to do whatever you wish and live your life happily.
By Kim Yoo-ra CP Reporter yoora621@cnu.ac.kr