Play It Forward – Timothy Lee
Music that inspires one of 2023 All Classical Portland’s Youth Artist Ambassadors, Timothy Lee
Meet Violinist Timothy Lee. Timothy Lee is one of All Classical Portland’s Youth Artist Ambassadors for 2023.
We recently asked Timothy what pieces of music have inspired him to become the musician he is today. Here are a few of Timothy’s selections.
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Sarah Chang
“I remember listening to this as a child and being amazed at how beautiful the sound of the violin was. This piece and performance inspired me to continue pursuing the violin despite my many struggles over the years.”
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 1st Movement
“This was the very first piece I played in the Portland Youth Philharmonic. I was only 12 years old and intimidated, but through learning this difficult piece and countless others afterward, I became not only more confident but more appreciative of the opportunity I had to play in such an amazing orchestra.”
Ravel: Tzigane, James Ehnes
“This was the first piece I played solo with an orchestra and I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I love the feeling of an orchestra behind me as I attack the strings with my bow. This piece also made the experience more special because it features many different moods and colors, which allowed me to express myself with all my emotions.”
“Main Theme” from The Lord of the Rings, Composed by Howard Shore
“A beautiful soundtrack from a beautiful film series. Listening to this lets my mind wander into the best sorts of places. Also, let’s just say I think everyone would benefit from a Lord of the Rings marathon.”
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Excerpt from 4th Movement
“This was the final movement of the final orchestra piece I played. Having been in an orchestra for the past nine years, that final concert was a powerful experience that I will never forget. This symphony was also the perfect piece to finish things off, as it was a difficult yet rewarding challenge to learn and embrace.”
About Timothy
Timothy Lee is currently a senior at Aloha High School. He has been playing the violin for 12 years and currently studies with Carol Sindell. He has been a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic for six years and has served as a co-concertmaster for the past three years. He won 1st place in the 2021 Oregon ASTA Solo Competition and the 2022 Oregon Music Education Association State Solo Contest.
In 2022, he performed a solo with the Central Oregon Symphony as the first-place winner of their Young Artist Competition and with members of the Oregon Symphony as a winner of the Cognizart Young Artists Debut! Competition. Through his music, Timothy has a personal mission to serve his community. He and his older brother frequently perform free concerts in local churches, nursing homes, and the Korean Society of Oregon. In Fall 2023, Timothy will study music and political science as a freshman at Yale University.
Click here to hear Timothy’s episode of On Deck with Young Musicians from October 22, 2022.