My career as a professional Violinist would not have been made a reality without the kindness and generosity of a sponsor.
To this day I am hugely grateful to the late Stephen Bell for his immeasurable act of kindness, sponsoring me in my Violin studies from the very beginning, all the way through to my auditions at the conservatoire. He has left behind a wonderful legacy of financial music aid and there are many other successful musicians in the UK who have benefitted from his financial support and immense generosity.
Katrina Lee is a Violinist from Yorkshire who began her studies at the Kirklees Music School with Ralph Barker and generous sponsorship from Stephen Bell. After winning numerous prizes in local competitions for her playing, Katrina decided to pursue a career in classical music and in 2010 received a scholarship to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama). Katrina graduated with first class Honours in 2014 and Master of Music in 2016 under the tutelage of Andrea Gajic. During her studies, Katrina won all the available string prizes including the Hilda Bailey award, Ian D Watt award, Governors Prize for Strings, Robert Highgate Scholarship and the Governors prize for chamber music. Katrina was also presented with the Goldman award from the Musicians Company and the a special prize from the Königin Sophie Charlotte Violin Competition in Mirow.
In 2017, Katrina was appointed the Principal 2nd Violin position with the orchestra of Scottish Ballet and has enjoyed learning all of the rich ballet repertoire including Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Prokofiev’s enchanting ‘Cinderella’. If not in the ballet pit, you'll find Katrina freelancing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, RSNO and further afield, she has performed with orchestras all around the UK including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
As well as orchestral playing, Katrina is passionate about playing chamber music and is in a number of ensembles; GAIA Violin and Cello duo (current Chamber Music Scotland Ensemble in Residence 19-21), Lee-Horvath Violin and Piano Duo, Senary ensemble, Isola String Quartet and Escocia Violin and Guitar duo. Her playing work has taken her internationally, including performances in New York, South America, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Iceland, Italy and Prague to name but a few.
In her spare time, Katrina enjoys cooking for people, hula hooping and spending time with friends and family.
Katrina plays on a modern violin (2003) based on a Guarneri del Gesu by Andrew Fairfax and a bow (1955) by Louis Henri Gillet.