Hailed by the Myrtle Beach Herald as “a soloist which one should make a special effort to hear, wherever she plays”, violinist Jessica Lee, the Grand Prize Winner of the 2005 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, was featured in the “Launch Pad” column of The Strad as the magazine’s “pick of up-and-coming musicians”. Describing her recital on the Ravinia Rising Stars series, the Chicago Tribune said: “…Lee’s breathtaking dexterity should enchant anyone within hearing distance.”
Jessica has appeared all over the world, including solo performances with the Plzen Philharmonic, the Gangnam Symphony at the Seoul Arts Center, in recital at the Rudolfinum in Prague, Czech Republic, and as soloist with the Malaysia Festival Orchestra for the gala birthday celebration of the Sultan of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. She has also appeared with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Long Bay Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Fort Smith Symphony, and made her debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, as well as making festival appearances at the Bridgehampton, Santa Fe, and Olympic music festivals. Her performance of Beethoven Violin Concerto at Alice Tully Hall was broadcast twice on WQXR-FM in New York. Commenting on a performance of The Lark Ascending with the Richmond Symphony, the Richmond Times-Dispatch said: “Her performance was flawless.”
Special projects comprise featured performances with dance companies, including Lar Lubovitch, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and the Richmond Ballet.
Other recital highlights include Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, as well as at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, Caramoor Festival, and Asociacion National de Conciertos in Panama. Her recital for the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock was named one of the “Top Ten Classical Concerts of the Year” by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
An active chamber musician, Jessica was a long-time member of the Johannes String Quartet, which toured with the legendary Guarneri String Quartet in its farewell season. She was a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two and has made numerous appearances at Alice Tully Hall and the Rose Studio. Jessica was also featured at the Seoul Spring Festival in Seoul, Korea and performed at venues such as the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Arts Center, and at the home of former President Bosun Yun. She has toured frequently with ‘Musicians from Marlboro’, including appearances at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Boston’s Gardner Museum, and is a member of the conductor-less string ensemble ECCO (East Coast Chamber Orchestra), with which she has performed at Town Hall and the Kennedy Center.
A native of Virginia, Jessica Lee began playing the violin at age three and quickly captured national attention with a feature article in LIFE magazine. Following studies with Weigang Li of the Shanghai Quartet, she was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at age fourteen and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree under the tutelage of Robert Mann and Ida Kavafian. She completed her studies with Robert Mann for a Master of Music Degree at the Juilliard School and is currently on faculty at Rutgers University and Vassar College.
