Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.
Few students can claim to hear the world in perfect pitch, identifying stray notes in the hum of daily life with the ease of a seasoned musician. Alexandra Lee ’25, a violist at Wellesley High School, is one such student.
A violist for nearly a decade, Lee began playing at age eight and has since made the viola her primary instrument, though she also dabbled in piano from age seven until middle school. For the past four years, she has been a staple member of the Honors Chamber Orchestra (HCO) at Wellesley High, where she has risen to the level of an intensive student. Her commitment to HCO has seen her perform in a wide array of settings, from MICCA festivals and MMEA Junior Districts to school concerts, step-up performances, and holiday shows.
“I’ve been part of every [orchestral] concert held in the school,” Lee said, reflecting on her involvement. “It’s been a huge part of my high school experience.”
Lee credits her performing arts teachers and peers for fueling her love of the viola.
“They’re some of the biggest reasons I still enjoy and play,” she said. “Being around other highly passionate people pushes me to work harder.”
This sense of community has allowed her to forge friendships spanning nearly a decade. Hoa-Yen Trinh, a close friend of Lee’s since they were 9, mentioned, “Our shared love of music has deepened our bond and given us something to relate to… her enthusiasm for the viola inspires me to practice.”
Trinh also marvels at her close friend’s talent.
“She’s the best violist I know, and her passion for music has allowed her to flourish intellectually and culturally. Her perfect pitch just furthers her musical expertise.”
Lee recalls a concert preparation that featured a classical guitar player as one of her most memorable experiences at Wellesley High School.
“It was turbulent and enjoyable,” she said. “We learned to navigate eccentric music while accommodating a new instrument. Even though it wasn’t perfect, I’m happy I experienced something like that.”
She also cherishes the annual holiday concerts in which the HCO joins forces with the chorus and jazz band.
“There’s a certain magic in filling a room with music and witnessing our peers do the same in their own style,” Lee reflected. These moments highlight her ability to embrace challenges and find joy in collaboration.
Beyond the high school, Lee’s musical journey extends to private viola lessons, as well as past stints with the New England Conservatory ensembles and music camps at the Rivers School Conservatory. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for music as an art form.
“Learning how music breaks down into notes, chords, measures, and phrases has given me a greater appreciation for it,” she said. “I’m grateful for how it’s taught me to value the hard work of others who pour their hearts into creating music—a language that transcends barriers.”
For Lee, music has also been a teacher of resilience.
“Hard work is the only dependable way to succeed,” she noted, recalling childhood hours at the piano bench. “Passion and time are the strongest ways to see results I can be proud of.”
Her dedication has paid off, earning Lee a reputation as a masterful musician among peers like Trinh, who adds, “Our shared love of music has deepened our bond. It’s really cool to have a friend so passionate—it makes her an awesome friend.”
Outside of music, Lee’s creative spirit finds expression in visual art, a passion she’s nurtured alongside her viola playing since childhood. She also harbors a keen interest in science, particularly environmental sciences and biology.
As Lee prepares to graduate, she envisions music as “an old friend” in her college and adult life. “I might not see it often, but every meeting will feel as though we never parted,” she said.
While not pursuing a conservatory path, Lee hopes to join casual orchestras in college or her future community, using music as a way to connect with new people.
Through her high school career, Alexandra Lee has proven herself a dedicated violist committed to excellence. She has led by example in the Wellesley High Orchestra, inspiring others to push themselves. As Lee prepares to leave Wellesley High, her hard work and commitment will continue to impact the WHS Orchestra in the years to come.
Article written by WHS Bradford Sports Editor John Battaglino ‘25 and Staff Writer Mia Wang ‘26
