Cello and Piano Duets
Faculty artist Dr. Juhyun Lee, piano, is joined for the concert by Becky Kutz Osterberg, principal cello of Fort Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, and Steamboat Symphony, and member of the Cheyenne Symphony. Two great composers paid attention to the full value of each instrument and gave equal importance to them in their compositions: Sonata in A Major, Op. 69 by Ludwig van Beethoven and Sonata in G minor, Op. 19 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Dr. Juhyun Lee, collaborative pianist and chamber musician, is an active performer and instructor ofthe music school at Colorado State University Prior to joining the CSU faculty in 2018, Dr. Lee was a primary collaborative pianist for the saxophone studios at the New England Conservatory, Boston University, and Boston Conservatory, where she worked with the renowned saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky. During her time in Massachusetts, she worked as a staff pianist at Longy School of Music and performed in a large number of recitals, concerts, and new music festivals, including a world premiere performance of Charles Strouse’s Sonata for Horn and Piano and Armand Qualliotine’s Duo for Piano and Alto Saxophone.
As an orchestral pianist, she performed in Jordan Hall as a guest keyboardist with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project in 2014. Dr. Lee received her M.M. in Collaborative Piano from the Longy School of Music where she studied with Brian Moll, and continued her studies with Andrew Campbell at Arizona State University, where she received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano and Chamber Music in 2019. At ASU, she served as a teaching assistant, received special talent awards, and was the primary pianist for the ASU’s top large ensembles, including the ASU Symphony and Wind Orchestra. She attended the professional program SongFest in Los Angeles in 2016, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine as a performance associate awarded with a full scholarship in 2013.
As an active collaborator, Dr. Lee was invited to perform at the 47th National Flute Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2019 and Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention in Washington D.C. in 2020, and to be the staff pianist at MCC’s Summer Flute Project in Mesa, Arizona. She performed in faculty recitals and a chamber music concert and has been appointed as a returning guest artist for the MCC Summer Flute Project in the following year. Dr. Lee published A New Piano Reduction of the Nielsen Flute Concerto in December 2019.
Becky Kutz Osterberg is a versatile freelance musician performing throughout Colorado and Southern Wyoming on both acoustic and electric cello. She enjoys playing in a wide variety of ensembles and venues including Orchestra, Chamber Music, Opera, Musical Theatre, Recording Sessions and Solo Performances.
She is Principal of the Fort Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, and Steamboat Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Principal of the Cheyenne Symphony. Other orchestra and opera ensemble performances include the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Opera Colorado, Colorado Bach Ensemble, Colorado Ballet, Larimer Chorale and Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra.
Mrs. Kutz Osterberg received her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Southern California as a student of Ron Leonard, retired Principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and her Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Akron, Ohio where she studied with Michael Haber and Richard Weiss. Additionally she studied Orchestral Excerpts and post graduate work with Daniel Rothmuller, retired Associate Principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Beyond her classical experiences, Mrs. Kutz Osterberg has performed with a wide variety of
artists including Josh Groban, Guns and Roses, Sarah McLachlan, Mannheim Steamroller,
Kaleo, Frank Sinatra Junior, Ten Tenors, Sarah Brightman, Wu-Tang Clan and a 60 city national
tour with John Tesh. She has recorded for independent studio producers in both Colorado and
California. Mrs. Kutz Osterberg is a founding member of Synesthesia, an eclectic mix of Flute, Clarinet,
Electric Cello and Ukulele playing a wide variety of musical styles including Pop, Celtic, Klezmer
and Classical. They perform at both public and private events throughout Colorado and
Wyoming. Her instructional experience includes teaching and ensemble coaching for more than 25 years.
Mrs. Kutz Osterberg has an established private cello studio in Fort Collins and in Steamboat
Springs. She has coached cello and chamber music at various summer festivals including
Western State in Gunnison, CSU in Fort Collins and Arrowbear Music Camp in Southern
California where she has also co-conducted both Elementary and Intermediate Orchestra
Sessions.
When Osterberg is not performing or teaching she is often found enjoying the outdoors or relaxing at
home with her husband and their cats. Some of her favorite activities include hiking, biking,
stand up paddle boarding and painting. Mrs. Kutz Osterberg’s cello was made in 1785 in Salisbury, England by Benjamin Banks.
Concert programs are available in a virtual format only and may be viewed via a QR code at the performance when available.
