Born and raised in the Bay Area, violinist Jelena Lee is pursuing an active career in performing and teaching. She obtained her Masters in Music in Violin Performance at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, where she studied under Yuan-Qing Yu. Prior to that, she received her bachelor's degree in music and German studies at UCLA, where she studied under Movses Pogossian and Varty Manouelian. As a young violinist in Los Angeles, Jelena was a member of the American Symphony Orchestra and an active member of UCLA's Gluck Music Foundation, an organization that promoted classical music around the Los Angeles area. While studying at UCLA, she had a private studio of violin and piano where she prepared students for ABRSM certifications, auditions, and competitions. 

 

Once she moved to Chicago to continue her studies, Jelena became an active member of Northwestern's Baroque Music Ensemble. She frequently soloed with the ensemble and performed for Northwestern's Baccalaureate Commencement Service. Jelena also was a graduate assistant for the Northwestern String Academy, where she worked alongside other violin teachers to prepare students for performances, exams, and competitions. During her studies, Jelena competed in Northwestern's Thaviu Competition and was a semi-finalist in the String Division. Jelena has also played with an upcoming orchestra, First Wave Collective, that performs works by women composers. 

 

Outside of her studies, Jelena has performed in chamber groups at Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival and Kent Blossom Music Festival, which was a partnership with the Cleveland Orchestra where she was able to study and play alongside the orchestra. After moving back to California, Jelena has focused on her instruction of violin performance, music theory, history, and aural skills.