About Sydney…
Praised for her “mesmerizing” interpretation of Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante, where she “surmounted all of its technical challenges with ease and gave us a joyous musical experience… it’s a performance to treasure,” (Julian Lloyd Webber, solo cellist) cellist Sydney Lee continues to captivate audiences with her refined elegance, expressive depth, and radiant sincerity.
A rising force in the classical music world, she was awarded First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition, Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition, and became the inaugural recipient of Meadowmount School of Music’s prestigious $50,000 Gurrena Fellowship.
Since making her solo debut at age thirteen with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sydney has performed across North America and Europe in such renowned venues as Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and Terrace Theater, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, and the Konzerthaus Berlin.
A passionate chamber musician, Sydney is the founder of the Galvin Cello Quartet, which has garnered international recognition after winning the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster as winners of the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition. The ensemble is now represented by Epstein Fox Performances and Dinin Arts.
Committed to her passion for teaching, she has served as the Teacher Assistant to Hans Jørgen Jensen at the Meadowmount School of Music and Northwestern University, as well as Adjunct Cello Professor at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, Mercer University. She has been invited to give masterclasses at the Tennessee Cello Workshop at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and CelloFest, working with undergraduate students of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to her institutional roles, Sydney has had private students of all levels since 2017. More information on how to study with Sydney can be found under Lessons.
Deeply committed to arts advocacy and education, Sydney serves on the Board of Directors for the Back to Bach Project, a global initiative reaching over 70 regions and 800 members, dedicated to inspiring children through music and community engagement. As Director of Global Operations, she founded chapters in Calgary, Canada, and Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and under the mentorship of Midori, spearheaded a landmark collaboration between Play On Philly, the Curtis Institute of Music, and Back to Bach. She has also led virtual educational seminars for young audiences across the United States, Spain, and France as a Back to Bach Soloist. Sydney’s unwavering commitment to her philanthropic endeavors led to Back to Bach’s receipt of funding in 2020 from the esteemed U.S. Presidential Scholars Foundation and Alumni Association Seed Grant Program.
A native of New York City, Sydney is a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music and Northwestern University, where she is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree under the mentorship of Hans Jørgen Jensen.
Discover more about her journey and latest projects on Instagram: @sydneylcello.