ATLANTA—Notes of Excellence! Music student, Kelene Lee (Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance) strikes all the right chords of determination, dedication and maximizing opportunities at Georgia State. A transfer student, Lee is the recipient of both the Stegner Piano Scholarship and the John Schneider Memorial Scholarship. She spent three years immersed in studio music, class and performances on campus and throughout Atlanta’s vibrant music scene.
Lee co-founded the piano trio, Chiaro, fostering real-world experience, repertoire exploration and numerous collaborations with composers. The group performed at various venues including Eyedrum Gallery, Troy University and the University of North Georgia, among others.
“I’ve grown by leaps and bounds throughout my experience at Georgia State,” said Kelene. “I owe so much to my incredible teacher, Dr. Raffi Besalyan, for developing my technique, ear, taste and assisting with obtaining the many performance opportunities on and off-campus.”
Lee was a finalist in the 2017 GSU Honors Recital, a solo performer during the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams residency, as well as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist at the 2017 Summer Music Performance Program at Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece. She has performed with the GSU Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and most recently, traveled to the College Band Directors' National Association Southeastern Conference in Tampa.
Lee believes versatility is essential to succeeding in this field, and her diverse taste of artists ranges from Leonard Bernstein to Freddie Mercury and Beyoncé. For Lee, her ideal job involves recording, touring, teaching, writing music, as well as solo and collaborative work that expands beyond classical music into modern, experimental, pop and jazz genres.
What’s next? After being accepted to three elite music schools for her master of music degree in piano performance, Lee has decided to continue her musical journey at the Mannes School of Music at the New School in New York City.
See Lee perform here: