Sarah Lee

Sarah Lee, age 16, is a Junior at Westview High School. She began playing cello at the age of 8 and currently studies with Hyun-Jin Kim. Sarah is a member of Camerata PYP and the Portland Youth Philharmonic, where she currently serves as principal. As an active soloist, she was the 1st place winner in the 2022 National Federation of Music Clubs Mary Cox Award and won 1st place at the Eugene Symphony Guild Young Artist Competition and the 2022 New York International Classical Music Competition. In 2023, she won 1st place at the State Solo Contest and State Chamber Ensemble Contest. She was also the winner of 2023 PYP Concerto Competition, the 2022 Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition and the 2021 Oregon MTNA Junior String Competition. Additionally, she was awarded first prize in the Best Bach Performance and the Music of Europe of GCC 2021 and won the Platinum Absolute Prize at the 2021 Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition. She had the privilege of being selected to perform as a soloist with the members of the Oregon Symphony by winning the 2023 MetroArts Young Artists Debut! Competition. She took part in All State Orchestra since freshman year, and was honored to have been a part of the 2022 All National Honors Ensembles Symphony Orchestra and 2022 All-Northwest Orchestra as principal. She has participated in renowned music camps such as the Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival, studying with Hai Ye-Ni, International Cello Institute Camp, the Vivace Music Festival and the Chamber Music Camp of Portland. And she has been accepted to the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) and spent her summer there. Sarah has also participated in master classes taught by Norman Fischer, Priscilla Lee, Hannah Roberts, Bonnie Thron, Steven Doane, Rosemary Elliott, and Antonio Meneses. Sarah wants to use her love of music to benefit and heal communities that have yet to experience the joys of music. Through benefit concerts, nursing home performances, and volunteer opportunities, she is slowly making her way towards spreading her love of music. Besides playing cello, Sarah enjoys playing piano, soccer, skiing, reading, and hanging out with her friends.