Stories & Insights: Meet Jane Lee

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jane Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Making a full-time living from my own way to freelance has been an exciting and rewarding journey. As a performer based in New York City, I am deeply involved in the vibrant music scene, regularly gigging and contributing to the performing arts in meaningful ways in New York and New Jersey.

After earning my Master of Music Performance degree from the University of Michigan, where I studied with Prof. David Halen, a concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, I began working with esteemed professional orchestras in the States and Canada. These engagements, along with my freelance work in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut areas, keep me consistently active as a performer. Whether playing in orchestras, chamber ensembles, operas/musical theaters, or solo engagements, I am dedicated to sharing music with audiences.

Beyond performing, I contribute to the music community as a judge for music festivals along the East Coast. This role allows me to support and inspire young musicians while upholding high artistic standards. These opportunities deepen my connection to the broader performing arts network and highlight my commitment to nurturing talent in the next generation.

Teaching has been another significant part of my career. As a violin and music classroom teacher, I bring music education to classrooms while mentoring other future educators. My private teaching studio, along with roles at Williamsburg Music Studio in Brooklyn and the Music Academy Foundation in Garden City, provides a stable income and allows me to guide students of all levels. The balance I’ve achieved between these roles not only sustains me financially but also enables me to make a lasting impact on the music scene in the United States.

Looking ahead, I aim to further expand my performance opportunities and continue contributing to the rich artistic culture in the United States. By staying active in both performing and mentoring, I’m building a career that celebrates the power of music and its ability to inspire and connect people.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jane Lee, and I’m a professional violinist and music educator based in New York City. Classical Music has been the core of my life for as long as I can remember, and my career has grown from a deep passion for both performing and teaching. I’m deeply involved in the performing arts scene across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania where I gig regularly as a violinist. I perform with professional orchestras in the Midwest such as the Holland and Peoria Symphony Orchestra, alongside performing with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Canada. Additionally, I contribute to the arts by adjudicating music festivals along the East Coast, helping young musicians refine their skills and achieve their goals.

One area I specialize in is opera performance, where I’ve had the privilege of working on iconic productions such as Carmen and Pagliacci, where I served as an associate concertmaster and a section violinist. I performed as an only violinist for opera Werther in Michigan in 2023 and as a section violinist for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Magic Flute, and so on in Miami, Florida in 2022. Performing in operas requires a unique blend of precision, adaptability, and expressiveness to complement the drama and storytelling on stage, and I find it to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Opera performances allow me to collaborate with singers and conductors, immersing myself in some of the most profound and dynamic music ever written.

In my teaching roles, I’ve worked on impactful projects that reflect my dedication to music education. In early 2024, I collaborated with the director of design at work to create a Teacher Planner—a tool for organizing lesson plans, tracking student progress, and enhancing engagement. This project was designed to empower teachers and improve the learning experience for students. I also mentor college volunteers from NYU, Columbia, and Queens College, helping them grow as educators while fostering a supportive learning environment for young students.

I’m most proud of my ability to balance a vibrant performing career with meaningful teaching and mentorship. I’ve built a career that celebrates music as a unifying force, whether I’m on stage performing for an audience or guiding a student through their first concerto.

For anyone seeking a performer who brings passion and precision to every note, or a teacher who tailors lessons to individual needs, I aim to offer a unique and engaging experience. Music is my craft, my livelihood, and my way of making a lasting impact on the world.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to tell stories through music and share my emotions with others. Every piece I perform carries its own narrative, and I see my role as a storyteller, inviting the audience to journey with me through joy, sorrow, hope, or triumph. It’s about creating a connection that goes beyond words.

Even in practice, I find this storytelling process rewarding. I delve into each phrase, movement, or piece, searching for the emotions or story I want to deliver. Once I’ve crafted and completed that narrative, it feels immensely fulfilling to bring it to life during a performance. I also encourage my students to bring their own stories into their music, which helps me stay creative and inspired in my teaching. When they share their personal connections to the music, it adds another layer of meaning and keeps the creative process flowing for both of us.

Whether it’s an opera, a chamber music concert, or a symphony, my goal is always to deliver a story that resonates. Music gives me the platform to express what words cannot, and knowing that it touches others in meaningful ways makes this journey so rewarding.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I believe that music has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together. As a person who landed in the States from the other side of the earth, one of my primary goals is to use my artistry to bridge gaps, whether cultural, emotional, or intellectual, by creating experiences that unite diverse audiences. I want to craft performances that don’t just showcase technical skill but deeply resonate with listeners on a human level, allowing them to experience something universal in the stories I tell through music, and make a significant impact on the music scene in the United States.

Additionally, I am driven by the mission of breaking down the traditional barriers of classical music, making it more accessible and relatable to people from all walks of life. My personal experience plays a big role in this. From 2021-24, I was in a long-term relationship with Braden who was an engineer and he had never been to a classical music concert or met a classical musician before. When I shared my story with him, it strengthened our connection and deepened our love. He enjoyed skateboarding, and we found a unique way to connect through practicing to get better in our own worlds. This shared experience brought us closer and allowed me to see how music, like skateboarding, can be a form of personal expression. It reminded me of how art can bridge seemingly different worlds and how vital it is to help others see that connection. This experience has fueled my drive to make classical music more accessible and show its relevance to everyone, no matter their background or interests. Discovering the power of music is my passion for life.