Lee Bynum

Lee Bynum (they/them) is a composer, librettist, and nationally recognized arts leader whose work sits at the intersection of creativity, equity, and education. With more than two decades of experience in arts administration, nonprofit strategy, and philanthropy, they have held leadership positions at Maestra Music, Lincoln Center, Minnesota Opera, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, where they supported projects that expanded access to classical music, arts education, and underrepresented artists. 

At Lincoln Center, Lee served as Chief Education Officer, directing programs that reached more than hundreds of thousands annually and leading equity-centered initiatives that reshaped national practice. As the founding Vice President of Impact at Minnesota Opera, they launched the first department in classical music devoted entirely to IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access), leading to transformative results in programming, staffing, and community partnerships. Lee has also served as a dramaturg and commissioner of new work for organizations including the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, American Opera Projects, and The Dream Unfinished Orchestra. 

They are passionate about building futures for women and nonbinary creators and have worked globally to advance equitable structures in musical theatre, opera, and arts education. Lee has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University.