Biography
Saxophonist Alexander Lee is dedicated to increasing accessibility and interest in the saxophone through his and the instrument’s capacity to share the stories of composers, musicians, and people as a whole. Through his prioritization of the listener’s experience and his work to include the voices of the unheard, Lee builds a sense of community with and for all that he interacts with.
As a performer, Lee strives to create memorable and representative events that serve not only his artistic expressions, but also the work of the composers and the enjoyment of his listeners. He has been in collaboration with today’s most eminent and emerging composers, from Chen Yi and Nadine Silverman to commissions with Zhou Tian and Woody Mo. His efforts are also reflected in his performance as a quarterfinalist of the 8th International Adolphe Saxophone Competition in Dinant, Belgium and as the featured concerto soloist of the University of Missouri – Kansas City Orchestra and University of California – Los Angeles Philharmonia respectively.
Lee enjoys working with other musicians that share in his goals in the dissemination of classical music to the general public. His collaborations with the Halite Quartet, an East Lansing based saxophone quartet, included performances and outreach events at senior centers, local bars, and educational presentations, in addition to the quartet being a finalist in the 2025 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Lee also serves as the saxophonist and executive director of the Fivemind Reed Quintet, a non-profit 501(c)(3) chamber ensemble he founded based in Los Angeles, California. They have hosted their own concert series in the Los Angeles community, as well as presenting for various public schools and universities in the Los Angels County. The quintet has also served as three-time resident artists for the Sound Garden Project at Interlochen, Michigan.
Education is a key part of Lee’s work to build upon the saxophone and music medium. Lee serves as the Applied Instructor of Saxophone at Albion College and Instructor of Saxophone at the Flint Institute of Music. He has also been a guest presenter and performer at the University of Central Missouri, Kansas University, University of Missouri – Kansas City, and University of California – Los Angeles.
Lee is currently a second-year doctoral student studying saxophone performance at Michigan State University under Professor of Saxophone Joseph Lulloff. He graduated from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2024 with a MM in saxophone performance under Professor of Saxophone Zachary Shemon and University of California - Los Angeles in 2022 with a BM in saxophone performance and a BA in music education studying under Professor of Saxophone Jan Berry Baker. He has also studied with former Professor of Saxophone Douglas Masek and Dale Wolford.