Composer and Peabody DMA candidate Young-Jun Lee’s work MYBSTMM, created in close collaboration with vocalist Sophia Sorrentino, has been awarded First Prize in the Composition category at the 16th Amigdala International Music Competition in Italy.
The piece is rooted in Sorrentino’s personal diary, with her own words serving as the text—imbuing the work with an intimate and authentic voice. Her performance, marked by emotional depth and vulnerability, lies at the heart of the composition.
This project is a testament to the ongoing and meaningful collaboration between the Composition and Voice departments at the Peabody Institute. It reflects a shared commitment to interdisciplinary exploration, where composers and performers engage deeply in co-creation.
The recording was engineered by Ben Giroux, whose attentive production work brought the piece’s sonic detail and emotional nuance to life.
Lee also acknowledges the support of composer Felipe Lara, the Peabody Institute, and Professor Ah Young Hong, whose mentorship helped bring this collaborative vision to its fullest expression.