Young violinist who formed own orchestra sets grand finale

At age 16, Kevin Lee was disenchanted with his orchestral career. He had studied violin since he was 5, but he felt like he couldn't express all he wanted with his one instrument. He itched for more musical freedom.

Conductors, however, can make their own rules. So Lee made his own orchestra, Summer Festival Philharmonia.

More than a year later, Lee is still directing a youth orchestra he built from scratch. This summer, the Issaquah High School graduate expanded his group of Eastside and Seattle student musicians for a grand finale before he leaves for Columbia University in New York.

The two concerts will feature some of the area's best youth violinists performing from six major violin concertos. The proceeds will go to a scholarship in the name of his violin teacher, the highly regarded Kent Coleman, who died of pneumonia in 2007. Lee hopes the money will help other students afford their musical education.

"I wanted to be able to prove people like high-school students are able to do something, take major musical works and transform it into something," Lee said. Beyond self-expression, Lee also hoped to free players from the hierarchical, competitive nature of high-caliber youth music.

Orchestras typically audition players, then seat them from the best on down. Lee's orchestra, ranging in age from 12 to 19, had section leaders but no assigned seats.

As part of his musical rebellion, Lee also dubbed his violin sections "M" and "W," flouting the traditional section hierarchy that places the best players out front. Members were encouraged to tell their slight, youthful leader how they wanted to play a piece.

The weekly rehearsals provided the perfect experimental atmosphere for a new conductor, who learned things easy for a violinist to overlook, such as giving woodwind players time to breathe. He toned down the music-history aspect of rehearsal, when he would spout facts about composers.

"People used to complain about it," said violinist Shannon Chen. "It's a lot better."

Running an orchestra with no funds schooled Lee in other adult topics, like liability and damage deposits. He and his friends persuaded Eastside churches to donate rehearsal and performance space. The orchestra has no money and donated the proceeds from its three performances so far — typically a $5 donation or a can of food — to local charities.

Lee also has to persuade musicians to show up every week. Most players were in at least one or two other orchestras, including the area's premiere youth group, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra.

During the school year, Lee's orchestra added another round of rehearsals to student schedules already laden with rehearsals, private lessons and competitions.

But the orchestra members said they like being in a student-run orchestra; they found Lee's repertoire, which has included Mozart's "Requiem Mass in D Minor," challenging, and they enjoyed the relaxed vibe.

"Being in a student-run orchestra is more lenient, " said Chen, who leads the violins as concertmistress. "I actually have more fun than being stressed out."

Cellist Calvin Chan, headed to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., this fall, joined this summer because he is Lee's friend and he had time once school was out. He also was excited to play the violin concertos featured this weekend.

"You don't see many student-run orchestras," he said.

Lee draws people partly because he is a gifted violinist, friends said. He won the 2008 concerto competition with the Evergreen Philharmonic, a competitive group of players from three Issaquah high schools.

At a recent rehearsal, Lee bounced around the rehearsal space, greeting players and helping them find their seats. Once on the podium, Lee was authoritative, asking the chatty group to talk less, asking how people felt about the tempo and stopping them when he heard playing get messy. When conducting, Lee smiles almost to himself as his hands keep time.

"No one does this," said flutist Erin Hoffman. "Just Kevin."

Lee has tried to break down some barriers between conductor and musician to make the orchestra feel like a collaborative, chamber group, but his musicians sometimes demand more leadership.

"While I'm standing at this podium people say, 'You have to be really firm, Kevin,' " he recounted. "Sometimes, I like discussing things."

Conductor Christophe Chagnard, of Northwest Sinfonietta and the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, started working with Lee this summer. Chagnard coaches him on how to lead a group in addition to working on conducting technique.

Lee's two concerts this weekend, for example, feature challenging repertoires even from a professional standpoint, Chagnard said. The conductor reminds Lee to take his time and tackle simple works first, but said Lee is also humble about the music he takes on.

"I have to pinch myself and remind myself he's only 18," Chagnard said. "It's really stunning that he's so talented already, and as I said, ready to embrace music in such a deep and broad way."

Lee is unsure if his future is in conducting, though he wants to major in music, but his love of orchestral music seems unlikely to fade anytime soon.

"It just fascinates me always when so many people come together and do one thing," he said. "I just think it's miraculous."

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com