| Bio
Riley Lee began studying the shakuhachi in Japan in 1970, with Ichizan Hoshida II and Chikuho Sakai II.
In 1980, he became the first ever non-Japanese shakuhachi dai shihan (Grand Master) and began his studies with shakuhachi great Katsuya Yokoyama in 1986. That same year, Riley, his partner/manager Patricia Lee and their two daughters moved to Australia. They have lived in Manly, NSW since 2001.
Riley has a PhD in musicology from Sydney University. Over fifty of his recordings have been released on international labels. In 1997, he co-founded TaikOz with Ian Cleworth, and the Australian Shakuhachi Society with Patricia Lee.
He performs, teaches and lectures throughout Australia and internationally. He has performed as a soloist with all the major Australian orchestras and is often featured on ABC radio and television.
In 2003, Riley became the first shakuhachi specialist to be invited by Princeton University (USA) as one of its Visiting Fellows, and has been asked by its Comparative Literature Department to return in 2009 for one semester. He is on the staff at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Riley is the artistic director and Executive Committee Chair of the Fifth World Shakuhachi Festival, Sydney,
4-8 July 2008.
Visit Riley's website
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