John Lee
Cello
Cellist John Lee, from Seoul, Korea, graduated from Curtis in May 2022, where he studied with Gary Hoffman and Peter Wiley. Mr. Lee was the David H. Springman Memorial Fellow at Curtis.
Mr. Lee has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Paul Hall, the New World Center,
and Paine Hall. He has appeared on NPR’s From the Top and at the Young Musician’s Forum in
Schenectady, New York; and he was named a 2012 YoungArts Finalist and a 2018 Karl Zeise Memorial
Scholarship recipient. He has participated in the Tanglewood Music Festival, Academie Internationale de
Courchevel, Orford Music Festival, Great Mountains Music Festival, and the International Holland Music
Sessions, performing in master classes with Myung Wha Chung, David Geringas, Gary Hoffman, Jian
Wang, and Sung Won Yang. In addition to performing, Mr. Lee enjoys transcribing music for chamber
settings.
Mr. Lee began playing the cello at age eight. He earned a bachelor’s degree in the History of Science and Statistics at Harvard University and a Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory, as part of the five-year dual-degree program. His other teachers have included Carter Brey, Minhye Clara Kim,
Laurence Lesser, and Ella Toovy. This coming fall, he will be joining the cello section of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.