nwasianweekly.com
May 10, 2008

Michael Lee

Prodigy? Probably

Michael Lee, a 14-year-old pianist from Bellevue, will perform as part of the Ten Grands benefit concert May 17 at Benaroya Hall. Ten Grands features 10 grand pianos and 10 concert pianists all on stage at the same time — playing both simultaneously and individually. Lee is by far the youngest pianist participating, and one of two classical pianists, along with Regina Yeh. Proceeds will benefit programs for disadvantaged youth.

Lee, who attends Odell Middle School, has only been playing for seven years, but is racking up the prizes like time’s running out. He was the first-place winner of the Sammamish Symphony 2008 Youth Concerto Competition, the first-place winner of the Baldwin Junior Piano Competition and has soloed with symphonies like the Bellevue Philharmonic. The soft-spoken eighth grader admits to not even practicing that much, just “one or two hours on school days.” Considering he’s also a formidable chess player, that’s quite impressive.

When asked if perhaps being Asian American diminished his accomplishments — don’t people simply expect Asian kids to be good at classical music? — Lee answered, “I don’t need them to be impressed,” adding that people who think like that “probably don’t really understand music.”

Lee does get a little nervous just before performances, but he said, “Once you start, it’s OK.”

For more information on the Ten Grands concert, visit www.seattlesymphony.com.

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