Description
In 2019, OperaDelaware presented Derrick Wang’s poignant and hilarious musical drama Scalia/Ginsburg. Delaware audiences are in for a treat as he returns to Wilmington for the world premiere of his newest opera, Fearless, the story of Hazel Ying Lee.
An incredible true story takes flight
Hazel Ying Lee is remembered as a trailblazing aviator, but she was so much more. Born in 1912 in Oregon, Hazel “Ah Ying” Lee fell in love with aviation in the 1930s and saved up for flying lessons. She was the first Asian-American woman to earn a pilot’s license and fly for the U.S. military. Friends and colleagues described her as vibrant, funny, athletic, and adventurous.
During World War II, legalized discrimination in the United States made life as an Asian-American challenging and sometimes dangerous. Lee encountered racism and sexism and faced adversity head-on, with a confidence and wit that made her a natural leader. Her talents were often invalidated because of her ethnicity and gender, but she persevered. In 1943, Lee joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots, flying risky missions in service to her country. Her bravery set an example not only for her brother Victor, who served in the U.S. Army in Normandy, but also for the many women pilots who fly today.
Hazel Ying Lee was more than just determined. She was FEARLESS.