Nelson Lee鈥檚 work as the former first violinist of the Jupiter Quartet has taken him around the world, performing at multiple concerts in iconic venues from Carnegie Hall in New York to Sejong Hall in Seoul, and recording numerous collaborative albums. Still, he is no stranger to the academic world he is joining at the Schulich School of Music, having taught at the University of Illinois for the past 12 years, in addition to teaching masterclasses across festivals, conservatories, and Ivy League institutions.
In this conversation, Nelson shares how his multifaceted career has shaped his view of the music industry, as well as his philosophies related to musical performance and teaching 鈥� and how these frame the impact he hopes to have on the Schulich community.
You have been performing as the first violinist of the Jupiter Quartet for over 20 years before coming to Schulich. What has that transition and the move to Montreal with a focus on teaching been like for you?
It has been a challenging but inspiring transition for me. I feel so fortunate to have been a member of the Jupiter Quartet, and I am excited to build on my experiences and continue my exploration into music-making and the craft of violin playing. Being in a quartet has encouraged me to examine music through many different lenses, and I look forward to sharing my perspectives with the students at Schulich.
I am also thrilled to be joining such a vibrant arts community in Montreal! It is a city that I have loved visiting for many years, and I still can鈥檛 quite believe that I now have a chance to be part of it. It also happens to be where my wife, Denise Djokic (who is also joining the faculty at 91丝瓜视频), and I met so it is particularly special for us to be moving here together.
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You鈥檝e previously taught in a wide range of positions, including as a faculty member at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Music, and as an instructor of many masterclasses across other institutions. What have you learned from your teaching experiences that you hope to bring to your teaching role here?
One of the most important lessons I have learned over the years is to treat every student as a completely unique and distinct individual. Every student has their own strengths, and my goal is to help each violinist I work with become the best version of themselves and to not judge or compare them to anyone else.
I have also learned that it is imperative to strive for technical improvement through musical inspiration. I think it is so important for students to feel empowered to develop their own, unique vision for the music and my hope is to collaborate with them to find a way to best communicate these ideas to the audiences they will play for in the years to come.
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As the Jupiter Quarter has toured the world, recorded multiple albums, and received multiple awards for the group鈥檚 work, how has your performance career influenced your philosophy towards music performance and teaching music to the next generation of musicians?
Being in a touring ensemble exposes you to the intensity and rigor of this type of lifestyle. I have had many ups and downs during these years and feel that I have learned a great deal about how to manage the pressure and unpredictability of this type of work. One element of being a musician that I find to be simultaneously the most rewarding and frustrating aspect of our profession is that our goals are never finite. We can never (at least rarely鈥�) come away from a performance or audition with a feeling of complete satisfaction or completion. It is a never-ending process with never-ending possibilities.
With this in mind, I think it is important as a musician to never get too high or too low regardless of the circumstances life is presenting. The focus should not be on winning competitions or auditions, but always on becoming a better version of yourself. You have to then hope and trust that the practical realities will fall into place because of your hard work and dedication.
I also feel that my experiences in the quartet have taught me so much about how to become a confident and flexible player. Being a chamber musician necessitates the ability to play assertively while still being able to listen and follow. Finding this balance can be helpful, I feel, no matter what type of musician one decides to become, whether it be a soloist, orchestral player, chamber musician, or all of the above.
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The Jupiter Quartet formed while you and the other players were studying together in college, and while you were split between different programs afterwards. Given that many students take so-called 鈥渦nconventional鈥� paths, just like you did, what things do you wish you knew before going out into the professional world?
One skill I wish I had spent more time developing is the ability to be entrepreneurial. I think, especially now, it is so important for students to be able to find creative ways to pursue careers and to be innovative about presenting music to the public.
One group that I feel has been especially inspiring in this way is the chamber orchestra A Far Cry. I might be a bit biased because I am friends with many of them from school, but I think they have done such a wonderful job of starting a group from scratch and cultivating a unique identity that has really connected with audiences. This type of story requires so much thought and creativity related to programming, fundraising, and countless other activities beyond the musical work that builds to the performance. Having these types of capabilities is so important I feel to developing a rewarding musical career.
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Which concerts this season are you looking forward to hearing your students perform in? And what do you want them to take away from their experiences?
I attended the first MGSO concert and was thrilled to hear the orchestra sounding so beautiful! It is really exciting to see so many students from different parts of the school coming together to create music together. I am also really looking forward to the chamber music concerts which [began] at the end of November.
I have enjoyed so much working with the students in the groups that I have coached and am excited to see them perform. I really sense a strong enthusiasm
