Media release from Shorter University:
On the evening of Monday, September 15, Shorter University’s Brookes Chapel was filled with a
powerful program of music exploring themes of love, loneliness, and faith. Presented by faculty
members Dr. Yuman Lee, bass-baritone, and Dr. Jerico Vasquez, piano, the recital offered
audiences a rich selection of works by Maurice Ravel, Franz Schubert, modern Korean
composers, and sacred and spiritual traditions.
Titled Songs of Love, Longing, and Faith, the performance drew from diverse musical styles and
cultural influences. Highlights included Ravel’s Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, selections from
Schubert’s song cycles, and deeply moving Korean art songs. The program concluded with
sacred and spiritual works that reflected on suffering, hope, and the human search for meaning.
Dr. Lee is a Professor of Music in Voice and Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Shorter, with a
performance career spanning the United States, Europe, and South Korea. His recording of
Schubert’s Winterreise with Dr. Vasquez is available on major streaming platforms.
Dr. Vasquez serves as Chair of the Edith Lester Harbin Department of Music and Artist-in
Residence at Shorter. He is a Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award recipient and was honored in
2025 with the university’s President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship.
Following this performance, Dr. Lee and Dr. Vasquez will present the program at Georgia
College (September 22), Augusta University (October 31), and Tuskegee University (November
10).
