Prof. Christel Lee

Violin

University of Music Karlsruhe

Biography

Canadian-American violinist Christel Lee won First Prize at the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki in 2015, becoming the first North American laureate in the competition’s fifty-year history. In December of the same year, she was invited to perform with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Chief Conductor John Storgårds on a tour to Birmingham and Dublin celebrating the 150th anniversary of Jean Sibelius’ birth. Her success in Helsinki was preceded by numerous accolades, including Second Prize and the Audience Prize at the 2013 International ARD Competition in Munich. Her interpretations have been highly praised by critics for their intensity, technical precision, and emotional depth.

As a soloist, Christel Lee has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Korean Symphony, the KBS Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic, and the SWR Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart. Alongside her solo career, she is a passionate chamber musician who regularly collaborates with leading artists of her generation. She is regularly invited to festivals across Europe, Asia, and North America. Among her recent highlights is the world premiere of a newly commissioned Double Concerto for Violin and Cello by Finnish composer Kalevi Aho, written for her and cellist Jonathan Roozeman.

Christel Lee, whose family has Korean roots, was born in Bloomington and began playing the violin at the age of five in Vancouver, Canada. She later moved to New York City, attended the Professional Children’s School, and graduated from the Juilliard School in 2011. She subsequently continued her studies at the Kronberg Academy and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich under Ana Chumachenco. In addition to her career as a performer, Lee is deeply committed to music education and the development of young talent. Since 2024, she has been Professor of Violin at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. She plays a 1770 violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi, generously made available to her from a private collection.

Course services

At least 3 individual lessons
Piano accompanist — a professional piano accompanist will be provided during the master class and for the performances.
Participant auditions — each participant has the opportunity to perform his / her finished repertoire for any upcoming competitions, concerts or auditions on one of the evenings during the master class. Please contact us for the wished audition by email.
Final concert — the participants of the master class can perform at the final concert after the end of the master class in order to present the program of the master class to the public and perform it publicly. One or another professor, at his discretion, will perform with the participants in duets or chamber music ensembles. The audience will present the Audience Award to the best artist of the concert under the condition, that at least ten visitors, who have purchased a ticket, attend a concert.
Career Advice — the tutor and director will be happy to advise you on topics such as studies, concerts, competitions, scholarships, auditions, management and self-management, and instrument procurement. Please contact us informally by e-mail for that.
Concert events in Berlin for the selected participants — the selected participants of the master class, chosen by the professor and the leadership of the Academy, will soon be offered a solo concert in Berlin. The date will be agreed with the artist.
Audience Award — directly after the final concert, an audience award in the amount of 50% of the entrance fees in cash as well as a certificate will be awarded to the participant selected by the audience under the condition, that at least ten visitors, who have purchased a ticket, attend a concert.
Two scholarships — with twelve or more master class participants, two scholarships in the amount of the participation fee will be awarded to two of the best students selected by the professor and the leadership of the academy after the final concert, including a certificate.

Performance with an orchestra

All participants in Berlin now have the option to perform with a chamber orchestra for the additional price of 490 € – 20 min., 700 € – 30 min. (this price includes a professional multi-angle video recording of your performance with 3 cameras). This option requires the registration of at least three participants so that the concert with chamber orchestra can take place. The decision to hold this concert will be communicated to you immediately after the minimum number of registrations for this option has been reached. Otherwise you will receive a refund for this option. Participation in the master class is not dependent on this option.

Location

BLACKMORE'S – Berlins Musikzimmer
Warmbrunner Str. 52
Berlin, 14193 | Germany

BLACKMORE'S - Berlins Musikzimmer has a chamber music hall and three more classrooms where participants can practice during the master class or longer, except during concerts. The opening hours will be announced in the invitation to the master class together with the schedule.

Accommodation

The closest hotels for the affordable price are:

Hotel St.-Michaels-Heim Sens City Hotel Albergo Hotel Villa Konstanz

Application

REGISTRATION: If you don’t register using our online registration form, please attach the following documents to your application by email or post:
– completed application form
– copy of your passport or ID
– C.V.
– artist photo
– list of the prepared works – your program

Course fees

3 Lessons

599 €

4 Lessons

699 €

5 Lessons

799 €

Passive listener

200 €

Passive listeners have access to all open lessons of the master class, as well as concerts of participants and professors.

Day pass

50 €

Holders of the day pass receive access to all open lessons of the respective master class as well as to the concerts of the participants and professors on the respective day.

With the binding registration, the entire course fee will be charged.

Welcome to the Blackmore International Мusic Academy!