Andrew McKenna Lee

.. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Andrew McKenna Lee began his musical studies on the guitar at age twelve, going on to pursue composition in his late teens. He completed his undergraduate work at Carnegie Mellon University in 1997 and finished his Masters degree in 2000 at the Manhattan School of Music. His teachers have included Leonardo Balada, Richard Danielpour, and Steven Mackey. He is currently in the Ph.D. program in composition at Princeton University.In recent years, his music has been performed by the Brentano String Quartet, ensemble ereprijs, the New Jersey Symphony, Kroumata, and eighth blackbird. His works have also been presented at many festivals, including the International Music Festival of Toroella de Montgrí, Spain, International Gaudeamus Week of the Netherlands, the Stockholm Arts and Sciences Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. His music has also been heard on WNYC’s New Sounds series with host Jonathan Schaefer and featured in a segment of New Hampshire Public Television’s weekly broadcast, New Hampshire Outlook.As a guitarist and performer, he has given solo recitals and concerts in venues such as New York’s Symphony Space, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, BAM Cafe, Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium, the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, and in conjunction with the Aspen Music Festival. He has also collaborated in live performances with other artists, including renowned bassist Mark Dresser, cellist Frances-Marie Uitti, and composer/guitarist Steven Mackey. An upcoming CD release on the New Amsterdam Records label will feature Lee’s own performances of solo and chamber works for nylon string and electric guitar.