Portland Metropolitan Region

Sarah Lee

Assistant Regional Director

Sarah Lee, age 17, is a Senior 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 the Portland Youth Philharmonic and its subset Camerata PYP, where she currently serves as principal. As an active soloist, her top achievements include first prizes for the National Federation of Music Clubs Mary Cox Award, New York International Classical Music Competition, Oregon MTNA Senior String Performance Competition, Northwest Division alternate, OMEA State Solo and Chamber Ensemble Contest, and the Eugene Symphony Guild Young Artist Competition. Sarah also performed as a soloist in the 100th anniversary season of PYP as the winner of the 2023 PYP Concerto Competition. That same year, she had the privilege of being selected to perform as a soloist with members of the Oregon Symphony by winning the 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 All-Northwest Orchestra as principal.

This past summer, Sarah attended the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute on full scholarship at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She also attended renowned music camps such as the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the International Cello Institute, the Vivace International Music Festival, and Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival, studying with Hai-Ye-Ni. Sarah has also participated in master classes taught by Norman Fischer, Priscilla Lee, Hannah Roberts, Bonnie Thron, Steven Doane, Rosemary Elliott, Antonio Meneses, Rachel Young, and the Catalyst Quartet.

Sarah wants to use her love of music to benefit and heal communities that have yet to experience the joys of music. She joined Project Prelude in September 2022, and has served as Assistant Regional Director of the Portland Metropolitan Region since June 2024. Besides playing cello, Sarah enjoys playing piano, soccer, skiing, reading, and hanging out with her friends.

(Fall 2024)