Derek Lee

Derek Lee (17) has studied piano for twelve years under the tutelage of Donna Weng Friedman at Mannes Prep, The New School, in New York, where he also studies composition with Dr. Steven Sacco, and music theory with Ionel Petroi. He has won numerous awards and honors for piano performance. In January of 2025, Derek won the Mannes Prep Concerto Competition and will perform with the school’s orchestra later this year. In 2024, Derek was a gold medal winner in the Young Artist Concerto Competition with the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra and performed Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in e minor, Allegro maestoso, Opus 11, with the orchestra in Plainsboro, New Jersey. In 2023, Derek was a first-place winner in the American Protégé International Concerto Competition for his performance of Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in c minor, Allegro con brio, Op. 37. In 2022, he made his soloist debut with the American Chamber Players Orchestra at the DiMenna Center in New York with Mozart Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, Allegro, KV453. In 2021, he won a silver medal from the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition, 2nd place in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, and a bronze medal in the Young Maestro International Music Competition. Derek was honored to be selected as a featured pianist in masterclasses with Simone Dinnerstein and Blair McMillan in 2024. From 2020 to 2024, Derek co-organized five virtual concerts, which raised over $50,000 to support City Harvest’s Share Lunch Fight Hunger campaign. In addition, Derek is a competitive squash athlete, member of his school’s varsity squash team, and a Rubik’s Cube enthusiast. He also loves watching football and is an avid fan of the Seattle Seahawks.