Musical America has named Lee Mills their New Artist of the Month for March 2022. In the article, Thomas May writes about Mills's last minute replacement of Thomas Dausgaard in concert in November 2021: "Mills not only mustered the confidence essential to facing this high-pressure challenge but, in particular, shaped an exciting, sympathetic account of Beach’s woefully neglected score that crackled with sensitive details."
"Mills not only mustered the confidence essential to facing this high-pressure challenge but, in particular, shaped an exciting, sympathetic account of Beach’s woefully neglected score that crackled with sensitive details."
In the interview, Mills talks about his time with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro. "“I think my time in Brazil has really helped me a lot,” Mills said in a recent Zoom conversation from his home in the Seattle region. He was referring to the pivotal period he spent as resident conductor of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro for five years before coming to the SSO. Financial problems in recession- hit Brazil made it too costly to hire guest conductors, and at the start of one season he had a mere four weeks to prepare for seven back-to-back programs. “That kind of pace was constant when I was in Brazil. So I got used to studying scores very quickly.”"
Thomas May elaborates about Mills's trajectory until now, from growing up in rural Belgrade, Montana, through his formative years at Whitman College, where he studied with Robert Bode, and at the Peabody Institute, where he was taught by the great Gustav Meier and Marin Alsop.
"Mills inspired delectably engaged playing for Haydn’s Symphony No. 102, leaning into its surprises and in-jokes with giddy intensity. I can’t wait to hear what he’ll do with the repertoire as he develops and refines his ability to elicit precision."
In praise of another performance of Mills's with the Seattle Symphony, May states, "Mills inspired delectably engaged playing for Haydn’s Symphony No. 102, leaning into its surprises and in-jokes with giddy intensity. I can’t wait to hear what he’ll do with the repertoire as he develops and refines his ability to elicit precision."
Find the entire article on Musical America (paywall).