Nov. 15: Violinist Kristin Lee to Release Debut Solo Album American Sketches on First Hand Records – Performing Music from the Album in Four Concerts Across the U.S.

Violinist Kristin Lee’s Debut Solo Album
American Sketches to be Released on First Hand Records

Worldwide Release: November 15, 2024
Pre-Order Available Now
Watch the Album Trailer

Featuring the Music of Amy Beach, Henry 'Harry' Thacker Burleigh, James Louis ‘J.J.’ Johnson, Scott Joplin, Thelonious Monk, John Novacek,
Kevin Puts, and Jonathan Ragonese

American Sketches Release Performances

Presented by Emerald City Music
October 18-19 2024 | Seattle & Olympia, WA

Presented by Linton Chamber Music Series
February 16, 2025 | Cincinnati, OH

Presented by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
March 20, 2025 | New York, NY

Downloads and CDs available to press on request

“[Kristin Lee] delivered a powerfully constructed and played programme, one of the most satisfying recitals that I’ve heard in years.” – The Strad

www.ViolinistKristinLee.com | www.FirstHandRecords.com

Violinist Kristin Lee announces her highly anticipated debut solo album, American Sketches, which will be released on Friday, November 15, 2024 on First Hand Records. A milestone for the internationally acclaimed soloist, educator, chamber musician, and artistic director, American Sketches is Lee’s debut full-length recording. Pianists Jeremy Ajani Jordan and Jun Cho join Lee on the album, with Jordan also contributing arrangements of selected works. American Sketches reflects the distinct and recognizable sound of American music and its rich history, encompassing both Lee’s journey as an American, as well as the journeys of the composers she has selected.

A violinist of remarkable versatility and impeccable technique, Lee has been praised in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which reports: “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity.” The Strad writes, “She seems entirely comfortable with stylistic diversity, which is one criterion that separates the run-of-the-mill instrumentalists from true artists.”

American Sketches includes: Four Rags (1999) by John Novacek, Girl Crazy: But Not For Me (1930) (Arr. Jeremy Ajani Jordan, B. 1989) by George Gershwin, Lament (1954) (Arr. J.A. Jordan) by James Louis ‘J.J.’ Johnson, The Entertainer (1902) (Arr. J.A. Jordan) by Scott Joplin; Romance, Op. 23 (1893) by Amy Beach; Southland Sketches (1916) by Henry 'Harry' Thacker Burleigh non-poem 4 (2017) (Arr. for Violin and Piano, 2018) by Jonathan Ragonese Four Airs: IV. Air (Previously Called Aria) (2000) by Kevin Puts; Monk's Mood (1943-44) by Thelonious Monk.

In celebration of the release of American Sketches, Lee will be performing works from the album as part of four concerts during the 2024-2025 season, each in a city that she is strongly connected to. On October 18-19, 2024, she will perform music from the album with pianist Jun Cho as part of the opening weekend concerts for Season 09 of Emerald City Music, of which she is the founding Artistic Director, in Seattle and Olympia, WA. On February 16, 2025, she will join forces with pianist Michael Stephen Brown for a concert presented by Linton Chamber Music Series in Cincinnati, OH, where Lee is on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Then on March 20, 2025, Lee, again joined by Brown, will be presented by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York, NY, where Lee has been a longtime member.

American Sketches has a personal resonance for Lee. A native of Seoul, Korea, she emigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven. During her childhood, playing the violin was a refuge from bullying and racism for Kristin – she moved to the U.S. not speaking any English, and felt the violin became her voice. As a foreign-born citizen of the U.S., Lee was compelled to select this repertoire to express her pride in the country she now calls her own, and has recorded works by American composers that have a distinct and recognizable sound of American music and its rich history.

Of what American Sketches means to her, Kristin Lee says:

“My inspiration for American Sketches lies in the celebration of differences. It is the differences of people, environment, and encounters that ignite our curiosity, fuel our motivation, and inspire our creativity. By accepting and appreciating these differences, we pave the way for changes to our society. Whilst adopting change is difficult for many people, it is a critical component in our ever-evolving world, particularly within the musical communities. The history of American music is a great example of this notion. From the Indigenous sounds of the Native Americans to the influences of Western Europe and Africa, the American sound merged and evolved into what we know as Ragtime, Appalachian Folk, Jazz, and so much more. The variety of musical styles represents the diverse culture of America, showcasing the beauty of individual expression and the celebration of American history.”

Kristin Lee on the Music on American Sketches:

Henry ‘Harry’ Thacker Burleigh introduced the complex but soulful tunes of American Spirituals to the classical realm, and inspired composers like Antonín Dvořák as he was exploring the Americas. In his Southland Sketches, Burleigh embodies a similar approach by applying his own beautiful tunes in the violin with simple but gorgeous harmonies in the piano accompaniment.

American music would not be represented without the innovation of the giants like Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, J.J. Johnson, and Thelonious Monk. Each of these luminaries left a mark on the musical landscape, revolutionizing their respective sounds: Joplin pioneering ragtime, Gershwin applying jazz idioms to classical compositions, Johnson embracing bebop with the trombone, and Monk fearlessly challenging and redefining the jazz traditions.

Four Rags by John Novacek pays homage to Scott Joplin’s iconic style, and non-poem 4 by Jonathan Ragonese represents the jazz idiom through written compositions and improvised sections. These two pieces stand out for their technical intricacy, yet they also offer a vibrant and impassioned musical journey. I have to make note of the fact that Jeremy [Ajani Jordan] improvised through the recording sessions for the arrangements to Gershwin, Joplin, Johnson, and Monk. For those of you who are curious about sheet music for these works, I wish you the very best of luck since it lives in Jeremy’s genius mind!

I also owe it to Jeremy for giving me the courage to record Monk’s Mood. He introduced me to Monk’s music, and although I was instantly drawn to his sound, I was uncertain if I could truly capture Monk’s style on the violin. In this work, my goal was to emulate the vulnerable yet poignant long tones of John Coltrane’s saxophone performance alongside Monk from the iconic 1957 Live from Carnegie Hall recording. Thankfully, the outcome has exceeded my expectations, making this perhaps my favorite track on the album.

The lyrical works on the album are represented by Air by Kevin Puts and Romance, Op. 23 by Amy Beach. I’ve woven these works within the tracks to encapsulate the ultimate essence of music – the emotional connection. Whilst we embrace the diverse sounds and the evolutionary changes, I truly believe that connecting with people on an emotional level remains a constant throughout music history.

About Kristin Lee:

As a soloist, Kristin Lee has appeared with leading orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, Hawai’i Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sweden, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic, Singapore National Youth Orchestra, and many others.

She has performed on the world’s finest concert stages, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Kennedy Center, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Steinway Hall’s Salon de Virtuosi, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Ravinia Festival, Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live, (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York, the Louvre Museum in Paris, Washington, D.C.’s Phillips Collection, and Korea’s Kumho Art Gallery. 

An accomplished chamber musician, Kristin Lee became a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center after winning The Bowers Program audition and completing the program's three-year residency. Kristin performs at Lincoln Center in New York and on tour with CMS throughout each season. For seven years, she was a principal artist of Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara, sitting as The Bernard Gondos Chair. Lee has also appeared in chamber music programs at Music@Menlo, La Jolla Festival, Medellín Festicámara of Colombia, Moab Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, Chamber Music Sedona, Music in the Vineyards, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern of Germany, the Hong Kong Chamber Music Festival and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, among many others.

In addition to her prolific performance career, Lee is also a devoted educator. She is on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as an Assistant Professor of Violin. She has also been in residence with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, the El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and is a summer faculty member at Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute.

Lee is the founding artistic director of Emerald City Music (ECM), a chamber music series that presents authentically unique concert experiences and bridges the divide between the highest caliber classical music and the many diverse communities of the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Since 2015, she has crafted unconventional and captivating programs that have led to Emerald City Music’s renown for its eclectic, intimate, and vibrant classical chamber music experiences. The series was recently deemed "the beacon for the casual-classical movement" (CityArts).

An advocate for living composers, Kristin Lee has collaborated with many of today’s prominent composers, including Vivian Fung, Andy Akiho, Patrick Castillo, Jakub Ciupiński, Shobana Raghavan, Steve Coleman, Jeremy Jordan, and more. She made the world premiere recording of Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto, written for her, which won a Juno Award and is available on Naxos.

Kristin Lee’s honors include an Avery Fisher Career Grant, top prizes in the Walter W. Naumburg Competition and the Astral Artists National Auditions, and awards from the Trondheim Chamber Music Competition, Trio di Trieste Premio International Competition, the SYLFF Fellowship, Dorothy DeLay Scholarship, the Aspen Music Festival’s Violin Competition, the New Jersey Young Artists’ Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi Scholarship Foundation. Her performances have been broadcast on PBS’s “Live from Lincoln Center,” the Kennedy Center Honors, WFMT Chicago’s “Rising Stars” series, WRTI in Philadelphia, and on WQXR in New York. She also appeared on Perlman in Shanghai, a nationally broadcast PBS documentary that chronicled a historic cross-cultural exchange between the Perlman Music Program and Shanghai Conservatory.

Born in Seoul, Lee moved to the United States and studied under prestigious teachers including Sonja Foster, Catherine Cho, Dorothy DeLay, Donald Weilerstein, and Itzhak Perlman. Lee holds a Master’s degree from The Juilliard School. Lee’s violin was crafted in Naples, Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano and is generously loaned to her by Paul & Linda Gridley.

American Sketches | Kristin Lee | First Hand Records
Release Date: November 15, 2024 (Worldwide)

Recorded at Oktaven Audio, Mount Vernon, New York, USA
November 21, 2019 (tracks 5–7, 13–14)
March 5, 2020 (tracks 1–4, 9–12 and 15)
May 15, 2023 (track 8)

American Sketches – Tracklist

John Novacek (B. 1964) Four Rags (1999) * [9:56]
1. No. 1 Intoxication [1:53]
2. No. 2 4th Street Drag [4:01]
3. No. 3 Cockles [2:32]
4. No. 4 Full Stride Ahead [1:30]

George Gershwin (1898-1937)
5. Girl Crazy: But Not For Me (1930) (Arr. Jeremy Ajani Jordan, B. 1989) * [2:24]

James Louis ‘J.J.’ Johnson (1924-2001)
6. Lament (1954) (Arr. J.A. Jordan) * [5:09]

Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
7. The Entertainer (1902) (Arr. J.A. Jordan) * [2:22]

Amy Beach (1867-1944)
8. Romance, Op. 23 (1893) ^ [5:53]

Henry 'Harry' Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949) Southland Sketches (1916) * [11:06]
9. No. 1 Andante [2:34]
10. No. 2 Adagio Ma Non Troppo [2:28]
11. No. 3 Allegretto Grazioso [3:18]
12. No. 4 Allegro [2:44]

Jonathan Ragonese (B. 1989) [6:29]
13. non-poem 4 (2017) (Arr. For Violin And Piano, 2018) *

Kevin Puts (B. 1972) [4:29]
14. Four Airs: IV. Air (Previously Called Aria) (2000) *

Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) [5:06]
15. Monk's Mood (1943-44) *

Total time: [53:16]

*Jeremy Ajani Jordan, piano
^Jun Cho, piano

Produced by Kristin Lee and Ryan Streber
Recorded by Ryan Streber
Edited and Mastered by Edwin Kenzon Huet and Ryan Streber

May 11: Violinist Kristin Lee is Featured Soloist with Symphony Tacoma

Photo by Lauren Desberg available in hi-resolution at www.jensenartists.com/artists-profiles/kristin-lee

Violinist Kristin Lee is Featured Soloist with
Symphony Tacoma on May 11

Performing Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77
Conducted by Music Director Sarah Ioannides

Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 7:30pm
Pantages Theater | 901 Broadway | Tacoma, WA
Tickets & Information

Kristin Lee: www.violinistkristinlee.com

Tacoma, WA – Violinist Kristin Lee – praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “vivacity and electric energy” – joins Symphony Tacoma and Music Director Sarah Ioannides as the featured soloist in Johannes Brahms’ introspective and deeply emotive Violin Concerto in D major from 1878, on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 7:30pm at Pantages Theater (901 Broadway). The concert, titled Portraits, also includes Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A minor and Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

A violinist of remarkable versatility and impeccable technique, Kristin Lee enjoys a vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and artistic director. “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity,” writes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and The Strad reports, “She seems entirely comfortable with stylistic diversity, which is one criterion that separates the run-of-the-mill instrumentalists from true artists.”

Of her upcoming performance with Symphony Tacoma, Lee says,

“I am beyond thrilled to make my return to perform with the Tacoma Symphony and Sarah Ioannides on one of my absolute favorite concertos, Brahms's monumental Violin concerto. Sarah and I've maintained a great friendship over the years and collaborated on the giants of the violin concerti, including Nielsen, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius, so it seems appropriate at this point to add the Brahms Violin Concerto to our list! This concerto consists of very symphonic sounds from the orchestra yet it is filled with the exchange of dialogues between the orchestra and the violin- like true chamber music! I can't wait to be inspired by the glorious playing of the Tacoma Symphony and the charismatic leadership from Sarah and experience this exchange on stage!”

Kristin Lee last performed with Symphony Tacoma in 2017. She is a familiar face to audiences in the area not only for her many performances here, but for her role as the founding Artistic Director of Emerald City Music, the Pacific Northwest home for eclectic, intimate, and vibrant classical chamber music experiences. The wildly successful concert series was deemed "the beacon for the casual-classical movement" by City Arts Magazine and is known for combining a relaxed atmosphere with performances by award-winning musicians.

Performing on a violin crafted in Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano, in addition to her solo appearances, Kristin Lee tours throughout the world as a member of New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, including in Italy, Croatia, Germany, Taiwan, and across the U.S. Always up for adventure, at the Moab Music Festival in Utah, Lee has performed in such unexpected places as rafting down the Colorado River, in a natural rock grotto, and in the magical landscape of the red rock canyons of the area.

Kristin Lee will release her debut solo album, American Sketches, in summer 2024 on the First Hand Records label. The album has a personal resonance for Lee. A native of Seoul, Korea, she emigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven. During her childhood, playing the violin was a refuge from bullying and racism for Kristin – she moved to the U.S. not speaking any English, and felt the violin became her voice. As a foreign-born citizen of the U.S., Lee was compelled to select this repertoire to express her pride in the country she now calls her own, and has recorded works by American composers including Amy Beach, George Gershwin, Theolonius Monk, Scott Joplin, and more, that have a distinct and recognizable sound of American music and its rich history.

Kristin Lee has performed as soloist with leading orchestras around the world including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sweden, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic, and many more.

She is the unprecedented First Prize winner of three concerto competitions at The Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Lee studied under prestigious teachers including Sonja Foster, Catherine Cho, Dorothy DeLay, and Itzhak Perlman. Her many honors include awards from the Trondheim Chamber Music Competition, Trio di Trieste Premio International Competition, the SYLFF Fellowship, Dorothy DeLay Scholarship, the Aspen Music Festival’s Violin Competition, the New Jersey Young Artists’ Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi Scholarship Foundation. Lee’s violin is generously loaned to her by Paul & Linda Gridley.

Kristin Lee is committed to the future of classical music as a devoted mentor and educator for the next generation, serving on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as an Assistant Professor of Violin, and teaching in residencies with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute, among others. For more information, visit www.violinistkristinlee.com.

For Calendar Editors:

Description: Violinist Kristin Lee, praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “vivacity and electric energy,” will be the featured soloist with Symphony Tacoma, led by Music Director Sarah Ioannides, in Johannes Brahms’ introspective and deeply emotive Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77. The concert, titled Portraits, also includes Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A minor and Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

Concert details:

Who: Violinist Kristin Lee
Soloist with Symphony Tacoma in Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77
Conducted by Music Director Sarah Ioannides
What: Portraits featuring music by Johannes Brahms, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Edward Elgar
When: Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 7:30pm
Where: Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402
Tickets and information: https://symphonytacoma.org/event/portraits/

Violinist Kristin Lee is Guest Soloist with the Olympia Symphony

Photo by Lauren Desberg available in hi-resolution at www.jensenartists.com/artists-profiles/kristin-lee

Violinist Kristin Lee is Guest Soloist for
the Olympia Symphony’s Concert Pride on March 17

Performing Tchaikovsky’s Virtuosic Violin Concerto
Conducted by Music Director Alexandra Arrieche

Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 3pm
Washington Center for the Performing Arts
512 Washington St. SE | Olympia, WA

Tickets & Information

Kristin Lee: www.violinistkristinlee.com

Olympia, WA – On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 3pm, violinist Kristin Lee, praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “vivacity and electric energy,” will be the featured soloist with the Olympia Symphony, led by Music Director Alexandra Arrieche at Washington Center for the Performing Arts (512 Washington St. SE) in a concert titled Pride. Lee will perform Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s passionate Violin Concerto in D Major from 1878 as part of this program exploring the theme of prohibited love – the composer had intended to dedicate the piece to his partner but relented to societal pressure to hide that he was gay. The concert also includes Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story in an unconventional mashup arrangement, and a special, unannounced encore. Pride is part of Olympia Symphony’s 2023-2024 season True Colors, which invites audiences to appreciate authenticity.

Kristin Lee is a familiar face in Olympia. She last soloed with the Olympia Symphony in spring 2022, giving a fiery performance of Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. She is also co-founder and Artistic Director of Emerald City Music, which presents eclectic and vibrant chamber music performances in both Olympia and Seattle. The series was recently deemed "the beacon for the casual-classical movement" (CityArts) and seeks to provide concert experiences that leave both the audience and performers mutually transformed.

Lee is dedicated to forging personal connections between audiences and classical music. She performs widely as a member of New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, including on tour in Italy, Croatia, Germany, Taiwan, and across the U.S. Always up for adventure, at the Moab Music Festival in Utah, Lee has performed in such unexpected places as rafting down the Colorado River, in a natural rock grotto, and in the magical landscape of the red rock canyons of the area.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity.” Lee has performed as soloist with leading orchestras around the world including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sweden, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic, and many more.

Of returning to perform with the Olympia Symphony, Lee says,

“Olympia holds such a very special place in my heart, especially because of the many meaningful friendships I’ve made through Emerald City Music. I am extremely thrilled to join forces again with my friends at the Olympia Symphony to perform my absolute favorite piece - Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. This will be my first time collaborating with Alexandra [Arrieche] and from the incredible development of the Olympia Symphony I have followed and witnessed through her leadership, I know that she is an absolute force of nature! I can hardly wait to see the magic we'll bring together to the stage!”

Born in Seoul, Kristin Lee moved to the United States and studied under prestigious teachers including Sonja Foster, Catherine Cho, Dorothy DeLay, and Itzhak Perlman. Her many honors include awards from the Trondheim Chamber Music Competition, Trio di Trieste Premio International Competition, the SYLFF Fellowship, Dorothy DeLay Scholarship, the Aspen Music Festival’s Violin Competition, the New Jersey Young Artists’ Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi Scholarship Foundation. She is also the unprecedented First Prize winner of three concerto competitions at The Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Her violin was crafted in Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano and is generously loaned to her by Paul & Linda Gridley.

Lee is committed to the future of classical music as a devoted mentor and educator for the next generation, serving on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as an Assistant Professor of Violin, and teaching in residencies with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute, among others. For more information, visit www.violinistkristinlee.com.

For Calendar Editors:

Description: Violinist Kristin Lee, praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “vivacity and electric energy,” will be the featured soloist with the Olympia Symphony, led by Music Director Alexandra Arrieche, in a concert titled Pride. Lee will perform Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s passionate Violin Concerto as part of this program exploring the theme of prohibited love – the composer had intended to dedicate the piece to his partner, but relented to societal pressure to hide that he was gay. The concert also includes Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story in an unconventional mashup arrangement, and a special, unannounced encore. Pride is part of Olympia Symphony’s 2023-2024 season True Colors, which invites audiences to appreciate authenticity.

Concert details:

Who: Violinist Kristin Lee
Soloist with the Olympia Symphony in Pride
Conducted by Music Director Alexandra Arrieche
What: Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Leonard Bernstein, and more
When: Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 3pm
Where: Washington Center Main Stage, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Tickets and information: www.olympiasymphony.org

Violinist Kristin Lee is Featured Soloist with Missoula Symphony Orchestra on March 2-3

Photo by Lauren Desberg available in hi-resolution at www.jensenartists.com/artists-profiles/kristin-lee

Violinist Kristin Lee is Featured Soloist with
Missoula Symphony Orchestra in Two Concerts

Conducted by Music Director Julia Tai
Performing Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto No. 1

March 2 at 7:30pm and March 3 at 3pm
Dennison Theatre at University of Montana
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT

Tickets and more information: www.missoulasymphony.org/concerts/in-natures-realm

Kristin Lee: www.violinistkristinlee.com

Missoula, MT– On Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 3pm violinist Kristin Lee will be the featured soloist with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Julia Tai –– the first female music director in the Missoula Symphony Orchestra’s history –– at Dennison Theatre at University of Montana (32 Campus Drive).

Lee will be the featured soloist in a performance of Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto No. 1. The concerts will also include Dvořák’s In Nature's Realm Overture, Op.91 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale," and the world premiere of Nothing Gold Can Stay by Missoula composer Scott Billadaeu.

Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto No. 1 was the result of an idea posed by Kristin Lee back in 2009, during rehearsals for a performance, Fung took Lee up on a proposal to write a piece for her. The musical foundations the new work were jointly inspired by Fung’s tour of Bali with a Balinese gamelan and her friendship with Lee, who had accompanied Fung to Bali with interest in experiencing what Fung describes as “the sounds that have moved [her]”, as well as Lee “wanting to understand where [Fung’s] ideas came from.”

Fung says of the work: “The concerto draws on the sights, sounds, and memories of Bali that have remained in my heart from the tour, as well as my getting to know Kristin [Lee], her firebrand style of playing, and, complementing that, the intense lyricism that she expresses as well. The work is in one continuous movement with several sections.

Kristin Lee’s accolades and sheer virtuosity as a violinist make any opportunity to witness her perform live an occasion worth much excitement. “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity,” reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Lee has performed as soloist with leading orchestras around the world including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sweden, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic, and many more.

In all of her performances and in the impressive array of roles she inhabits as a musician, Kristin Lee is dedicated to forging personal connections between audiences and classical music. She performs widely as a member of New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, including on tour in Italy, Croatia, Germany, Taiwan, and across the U.S. Always up for adventure, at the Moab Music Festival in Utah, Lee has performed in such unexpected places as rafting down the Colorado River, in a natural rock grotto, and in the magical landscape of the red rock canyons of the area. Lee founded Emerald City Music in Seattle, and as artistic director, presents eclectic, vibrant concert experiences in unusual venues, which leave both performers and audiences mutually transformed. The series was recently deemed "the beacon for the casual-classical movement" (CityArts). She is also committed to the future of classical music as a devoted mentor and educator for the next generation, serving on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as an Assistant Professor of Violin, and teaching in residencies with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute, among others.

Born in Seoul, Kristin Lee moved to the United States and studied under prestigious teachers including Sonja Foster, Catherine Cho, Dorothy DeLay, and Itzhak Perlman. Her many honors include awards from the Trondheim Chamber Music Competition, Trio di Trieste Premio International Competition, the SYLFF Fellowship, Dorothy DeLay Scholarship, the Aspen Music Festival’s Violin Competition, the New Jersey Young Artists’ Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi Scholarship Foundation. She is also the unprecedented First Prize winner of three concerto competitions at The Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Her violin was crafted in Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano and is generously loaned to her by Paul & Linda Gridley.

For more information, visit www.violinistkristinlee.com.

About Missoula Symphony Orchestra: The Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale has delivered unique, live performances to Western Montana since 1954. Locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds attend MSO concerts, from first-time symphony goers to dedicated sponsors and community members.

Under the leadership of our Music Director, Julia Tai, the company has expanded musical offerings and education programs. The current season features eight concerts, including four Masterworks Concerts, a Holiday Pops! concert, a Youth/Family concert, a Broadway concert, and a free outdoor summer concert. Education and community engagement programs include free mini concerts at the Missoula Public Library and its branches, Student Night@Dress Rehearsal, a coaching/mentorship program in regional public schools, a summer string camp, and important scholarship support to University of Montana music students. To learn more, visit us at MissoulaSymphony.org.

For Calendar Editors:

Description: Violinist Kristin Lee will be presented in two concerts on March 2 at 7:30pm and March 3 at 3pm, as the featured soloist with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director Julia Tai. A musician of impeccable skill whose performances The New York Classical Review describes as “vivid” and “fluid and expressive,” Lee will be the featured soloist in a performance of Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto No. 1 –– a piece Fung wrote for Lee. Fung says the concerto “brings together my influence by non-Western traditional music, especially Balinese gamelan music, and my friendship with violinist Kristin Lee.” The program will also include Dvořák’s In Nature's Realm Overture, Op.91, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale," and the world premiere of Nothing Gold Can Stay by Missoula composer, Scott Billadaeu.

Short description: Violinist Kristin Lee –– a musician of impeccable skill whose performances are described as “vivid” and “fluid and expressive” (The New York Classical Review) –– will be presented in two concerts as the featured soloist with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Michelle Merrill. Lee will perform Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto No. 1 –– a piece Fung wrote for Lee. Fung says the work blends her “influence by non-Western traditional music, especially Balinese gamelan music, and my friendship with violinist Kristin Lee.”

Concert details:
Who: Violinist Kristin Lee
Presented by the Missoula Symphony Orchestra
What: Music by Vivian Fung, Dvořák, Beethoven, and a world premiere by Scott Billadaeu
When: Saturday, March 2, 2024 7:30pm Sunday, March 3, 2024 3pm
Where: Dennison Theatre at University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812
Tickets and information: www.missoulasymphony.org/concerts/in-natures-realm

Violinist Kristin Lee is Featured Soloist with Winston-Salem Symphony in Two Concerts on September 23rd and 24th.

Photo by Lauren Desberg available in hi-resolution at www.jensenartists.com/artists-profiles/kristin-lee

Violinist Kristin Lee is Featured Soloist with
Winston-Salem Symphony in Two Concerts

Conducted by Music Director Michelle Merrill
Performing Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

Friday, September 23, 2023 at 7:30pm
Saturday, September 24, 2023 at 3pm
Reynolds Auditorium | 301 N Hawthorne Rd. | Winston-Salem, NC

Tickets and more information:
www.wssymphony.org/event/merrill-conducts-bernstein-brahms/2023-09-23/

Kristin Lee: www.violinistkristinlee.com

Winston-Salem, NC – On Friday, September 23 at 7:30pm and Saturday, September 24, 2023 at 3pm violinist Kristin Lee will be the featured soloist with the Winston-Salem Symphony, conducted by newly appointed Music Director Michelle Merrill in her season debut at Reynolds Auditorium (301 N Hawthorne Rd.). Lee will perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77. The concert program will also include Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Kristin Lee’s accolades and sheer virtuosity as a violinist make any opportunity to witness her perform live an occasion worth much excitement. “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity,” reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Lee has performed as soloist with leading orchestras around the world including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sweden, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic, and many more.

In all of her performances and in the impressive array of roles she inhabits as a musician, Kristin Lee is dedicated to forging personal connections between audiences and classical music. She performs widely as a member of New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, including on tour in Italy, Croatia, Germany, Taiwan, and across the U.S. Always up for adventure, at the Moab Music Festival in Utah, Lee has performed in such unexpected places as rafting down the Colorado River, in a natural rock grotto, and in the magical landscape of the red rock canyons of the area. Lee founded Emerald City Music in Seattle, and as artistic director, presents eclectic, vibrant concert experiences in unusual venues, which leave both performers and audiences mutually transformed. The series was recently deemed "the beacon for the casual-classical movement" (CityArts). She is also committed to the future of classical music as a devoted mentor and educator for the next generation, serving on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as an Assistant Professor of Violin, and teaching in residencies with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute, among others.

Of her upcoming performance of Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the Winston-Salem Symphony and her personal history of memories with the piece, Lee says:

“I am delighted to start my 23-24 season on a very high note with the Brahms Violin Concerto and the Winston Salem Symphony Orchestra. I am especially excited for this performance because I have the great privilege to join Michelle Merill on her debut as the new Music Director. I have vivid memories from when I first learned the Brahms Violin Concerto. I was so obsessed with this work that I spent many hours in the Listening Room at The Juilliard School, listening to recording after recording, and identifying the different interpretations from my musical heroes. Brahms's composition stands out from other violin concerti because even though it is one of the most technically demanding pieces in the violin repertoire, every single moment is to serve a musical purpose, not a virtuosic display. The emotional and musical complexity that Brahms captures through his writing is the reason why it remains as my favorite violin concerto to this day."

Born in Seoul, Kristin Lee moved to the United States and studied under prestigious teachers including Sonja Foster, Catherine Cho, Dorothy DeLay, and Itzhak Perlman. Her many honors include awards from the Trondheim Chamber Music Competition, Trio di Trieste Premio International Competition, the SYLFF Fellowship, Dorothy DeLay Scholarship, the Aspen Music Festival’s Violin Competition, the New Jersey Young Artists’ Competition, and the Salon de Virtuosi Scholarship Foundation. She is also the unprecedented First Prize winner of three concerto competitions at The Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Her violin was crafted in Italy in 1759 by Gennaro Gagliano and is generously loaned to her by Paul & Linda Gridley.

For more information, visit www.violinistkristinlee.com.

About Winston-Salem Symphony: Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony enters its 76th season, inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year. www.wssymphony.org/

For Calendar Editors:

Description: Violinist Kristin Lee will be presented in two concerts on September 23 and 24, as the featured soloist with the Winston-Salem Symphony conducted by Music Director Michelle Merrill. A musician of impeccable skill whose performances The New York Classical Review describes as “vivid” and “fluid and expressive,” Lee will perform Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 as part of a program that also includes Antonin Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Short description: Violinist Kristin Lee –– a musician of impeccable skill whose performances are described as “vivid” and “fluid and expressive” (The New York Classical Review) –– will be presented in two concerts as the featured soloist with the Winston-Salem Symphony, conducted by Music Director Michelle Merrill. Lee will perform Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77.

Concert details:
Who: Violinist Kristin Lee
Presented by the Winston-Salem Symphony
What: Music by Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvořák, and Leonard Bernstein
When: Friday, September 23 at 7:30pm and Saturday September 24, 2023 at 3pm
Where: Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N Hawthorne Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Tickets and information: www.wssymphony.org/2324-2/