Dec 12, 2012 >> Five minutes with Chicago Children’s Choir’s Josephine Lee
It’s hard to believe by looking at her that Josephine Lee has been the artistic director of the Chicago Children’s Choir for almost fourteen years—her beauty is as fresh and radiant as the children and teenagers she leads. Music perpetuates youth, though, and Josephine has been a musician since the very start. (She played both piano and violin and was a singer since the age of three. “And I conducted whoever would let me,” she laughs.)
This weekend marks one of Josephine’s most pivotal career moments: Sita Ram, a completely original musical hits the stage, performed by the Children’s Choir. We love any kind of musical, of course, but Sita Ram is the epitome of cool. It’s a modern-day version of a Hindu epic, with glamorous costumes by Atelier Azza’s Azeeza Khan and singing and dancing that will blow you away. We can’t wait to see it, but mostly, we can’t wait to see what else Josephine has in store for the future. Forget DJs—conductors are the new cool.
BEAUTY MUST-HAVES>> scent: L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR SEVILLE A L’AUBE // moisturizer: CAUDALIE NOURISHING BODY LOTION // concealer: YVES SAINT LAURENT TOUCHE ELCAT-RADIANT TOUCH // bronzer: every now and then CHANEL SOLIEL TAN DE CHANEL BRONZING POWDER // mascara: CHANEL INIMITABLE INTENSE MASCARA MULIT-DIMENSIONNEL SOPHISTIQUE // lipstick: BOBBI BROWN BURNT RED LIPSTICK // nail polish shade: HOLLYWOOD RED (G&F loves KOBO PROFESSIONAL HOLLYWOOD RED) // eyebrows: LANCOME LE CRAYON POUDRE BROW POWDER PENCIL // this-product-will-get-me-through-Sita-Ram-weekend: CAUDALIE EYELID ANTI-CHRONIC PUFFINESS
Q: What made you choose Azeeza Khan of Atelier Azza to do the costumes for Sita Ram?
A: We wanted to bring our current uniforms to the 21st century, to celebrate the hip urban-ness of our children but still giving them style and elegance. An up-and-coming Chicago designer seemed the perfect fit for what we wanted to accomplish with new uniforms.Q: By going with such a hot designer, you’re making a statement about the connection of fashion and music. Do you think the two intersect?
A: There’s tons of intersection! If you look at any performing artist, they make a statement with what they wear. It’s a synergy between fashion and music that helps reflect who we are as artists.Q: What influence does music have on your own style?
A: It’s timeless. Classical music is my foundation—it has lasted centuries and I like my style to the same.Q: So the style equivalent is…?
A: A classic quilted Chanel bag. I like clean lines and own a lot of black.Q: What is your fashion splurge?
A: Shoes and coats!Q: Your beauty—like your fashion—is timeless too. What’s your beauty philosophy?
A; Be yourself, whoever you may be.
Sita Ram plays Friday, December 14th and Saturday, December 15th. Visit SitaRamTheMusical.com for more information and tickets.