Donald Lee III is Opera Memphis’ new Music Director.

Lee is an active conductor, pianist, and advocate for opera and contemporary music. He has appeared in concert with the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra, and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Lee has been engaged as a cover conductor with the Gateways Festival Orchestra and Des Moines Metro Opera, and was the first conductor/pianist member of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

He has performed as a collaborative pianist with tenor Lawrence Brownlee, baritone Will Liverman, and countertenor Key’mon Murrah. As a pianist, Lee has been a part of the creation of six new operas through Opera Theater St. Louis’ New Works Collective.

Opera Memphis opens its 2026-27 season on Sept.1 with “30 Days of Opera.”

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