An Afternoon of Chamber Music with the Lee Trio

Witness this world-class ensemble consisting of three sisters--violinist Lisa, cellist Angela, and pianist Melinda-- in a powerful program of F. Haydn, I. Stravinsky, and B. Smetana. The intimate dialogue, virtuosic playing, and dynamic storytelling will make this chamber concert an experience to remember!


THE LEE TRIO
Lisa Lee, violin
Angela Lee, cello
Melinda Lee Masur, piano

Since its critically acclaimed Wigmore Hall debut in 2002, The Lee Trio's "gripping immediacy and freshness" and "rich palette of tone colours" [The Strad] continue to move audiences and critics around the globe. The Trio's awards include the Recording Prize at the Kuhmo International Chamber Music Competition in Finland and the Gotthard-Schierse-Stiftung grant in Berlin for rising international artists. The Trio has given recitals and masterclasses in cities from Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, San Francisco, New York and Toronto to London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, Kiev, Cluj-Napoca and Leipzig. The Lee Trio has performed as soloists with orchestras such as the Shanghai Philharmonic, Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Shenzhen Symphony and the Macao Youth Symphony. The Trio's tours of China have included recitals in Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Shanghai, at the Zhongshan Culture and Art Center, Hong Kong's City Hall Theatre and Lee Hysan Concert Hall, recordings for RTHK4, Hong Kong's classical broadcast radio, and a guest appearance on the televised program, Music of Friends.

The Lee Trio is passionate about working with and performing the music of living composers. As a recipient of the San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music Musical Grant, the Trio commissioned and premiered Nathaniel Stookey's Piano Trio No. 1 in 2009. Other works by Uljas Pulkkis, Philip Lasser, Laurence Rosenthal, Jerry Bilik, Julian Yu, Sylvie Bodorova and Richard Pantcheff have been given their world, American and European premieres by The Lee Trio. The Trio served as the first Ensemble-in-Residence of the Chelsea Music Festival in New York City, giving the world-premiere performance of Jane Antonia Cornish's "Duende" in 2010 and releasing Duende on the Delos label in 2014 to critical acclaim. The Trio’s recording of D. J. Sparr's "Lost in the Old South Tower" was recorded at Skywalker Sound and released in an album entitled HARD METAL CANTÜS on Innova Records in 2020.

Educating the next generation of musicians is integral to the Trio's mission. In addition to giving masterclasses at schools and universities at home and abroad, the Trio regularly performs outreach and concerts in areas where the arts have little or no exposure, partnering with organizations like BRAVO Youth Orchestras and Music Camp International. The Trio was the first classical ensemble to perform for students at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy located in the heart of Las Vegas' most at-risk neighborhood. Other schools visited in years past include the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Oakland School for the Arts. Humanitarian trips to teach music and work with underserved youth have taken the Trio to Ukraine and Romania. Each member of The Lee Trio is a recipient of the California State Assembly Recognition for Exemplary Service to the Community and have served on the faculty of institutions such as San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Chicago, Boston University, the BUTanglewood Institute, San Francisco-based Young Chamber Musicians, MasterWorks Festival, and the Zephyr International Chamber Music Academy in Italy. The ensemble taught and performed at University of Utah as its 2017 Resident Chamber Music Ensemble as well as the Gheorghe Dima Music Academy in Cluj, Romania. The Trio also had the pleasure of serving as the Distinguished Visiting Scholars in the Performing Arts at Gordon College in 2018, and during 2023, served as Ensemble-in-Residence at Concordia University in Wisconsin, collaborating in concert with members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The Trio stays committed to partnering with universities and other organizations to use music and the arts to further the wellbeing of local and global communities.

During the pandemic, The Trio continued giving online performances, masterclasses, presentations, and interviews for institutions including the Fulbright Association, Columbia University Arts Access, Wellesley College, The Resonance Project, Avaloch Farm, National Cello Institute, and Young Chamber Musicians. Of note was the first edition of the “Online Originals” episodes, titled Beethoven Express, for Chelsea Music Festival's live stream launch on YouTube. The Trio also commissioned two new piano trios by Edmund Finnis and David Conte, which culminated in world premiere performances in 2021 and 2022 for live audiences. As an awardee of the InterMusic SF’s Musical Grant Program, The Trio will be releasing a new album on the Chelsea Music Festival Records label featuring works of Robert Schumann, Edmund Finnis, and Uljas Pulkkis in 2024.

The Lee Trio took part in the worldwide celebration of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday in 2020 with its debut at the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Germany just before the pandemic hit. The Trio had the distinguished honor to perform for German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Leo Baeck Institute during her official visit to New York City in 2010 as well as for former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in 2014 at Leipzig’s historic Peterskirche in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the peaceful revolution and reunification of Germany. Since 2022, numerous performances have been given to raise funds and awareness in support of Ukrainian refugees.

To stay in touch with The Lee Trio, please visit YouTube, Facebook or IG @theleetrio3.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Oshman Family JCC- Albert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall (Bldg F), 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, United States