At just 11 years old, violinist San Lee will soon step into a spotlight typically reserved for performers with decades of experience.
On Friday evening, the Greeley Chamber Orchestra will feature San as he performs the first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, a piece usually performed by only the highest-level musicians.
San is a sixth grader at Kinard Middle School in Fort Collins. He began taking lessons with Zo Manfredi — a longtime violin professor and teacher now based in Loveland — but has recently begun working with Jubal Fulks, a professor of violin and head of strings area at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
“Zo Manfredi gave him such a wonderful foundation, technically,” Fulks said. “Beyond that, the kid is supremely gifted in the way that his mind works, but also in his work ethic. As a teacher, we try to keep away from the word ‘talent’ because we know how much hard work goes into being able to play at the level he does.”
11-year-old violinist San Lee plays with the Greeley Chamber Orchestra during a rehearsal at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Greeley on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)In just five years of playing the violin, San has quite the list of accomplishments filling up his trophy case. He won the Colorado State Music Teachers Association upper elementary division competition in 2024, and he won the 11- to 14-year-old division of last year’s Music Teachers National Association competition.
“I’m very excited for the performance,” he said. “I like to listen to the sounds various instruments make, and I have always wanted to play with an orchestra.”
San also attended the junior session of the Heifetz Institute String Camp in Virginia this past summer, where he worked with teachers from leading conservatories across the country.
“I have never had a student like this,” said Fulks, who has spent the past 13 years working with the best the University of Northern Colorado — and the region — has to offer.
“He would be in Juilliard Pre-College if he lived in New York,” Fulks added.
Violinist San Lee, 11, practices at his weekly lesson in the office of of his teacher, Jubal Fulks, the professor of violin and head of string area at the University of Northern Colorado's School of Music, in Fraiser Hall on the campus of UNC, in Greeley on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)San naturally came up in conversations Fulks had with others in the classical music scene, including Greeley Chamber Orchestra Conductor Dan Frantz.
“Last summer, Jubal called me and said, ‘I have a student from Fort Collins that is just off-the-charts amazing,’ ” Frantz said. “ ‘If you would ever consider it, he would be a wonderful soloist for the orchestra.’ ”
After contemplating what would be the best fit, Frantz decided on the Mendelssohn concerto that will be performed Friday. At the first rehearsal last month, San came in with the piece memorized — something Frantz doesn’t require and didn’t ask of San, but something San has been known to do throughout his lessons with Fulks.
“This isn’t like memorizing the alphabet,” Frantz said. “I shudder to think how many notes are in the Mendelssohn. It is a professional-grade concerto that professional soloists travel the world performing.”
That dedication had Frantz in awe. And he wasn’t the only one left picking his jaw up off the floor when San first performed with the chamber orchestra.
11-year-old violinist San Lee concentrates as he practices at his weekly lesson in the office of Jubal Fulks, the professor of violin and head of string area at the University of Northern Colorado's School of Music, in Fraiser Hall on the campus of UNC, in Greeley on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)“All our entrances were a little wobbly because the whole orchestra wanted to listen to San Lee,” Frantz said. “And it’s hard to do both, you can’t listen intently and play your own notes. They were all slack-jawed when he tore into the concerto. They were just amazed. And those are 35 musicians with 20 to 50 years of experience themselves.”
When San takes the stage Friday evening, it will surely be the first of many such performances for the incredibly dedicated young man with lofty goals — every one of which he is well on his way to achieving.
“I would like to be a famous violinist and travel around the world performing with many musicians,” San said.
11-year-old violinist San Lee smiles as he says goodbye to his instructor Jubal Fulks, the professor of violin and head of string area at the University of Northern Colorado's School of Music, before he leaves his weekly lesson ahead of his performance with the Greeley Chamber Orchestra, in Fraiser Hall on the campus of UNC, in Greeley on Monday, March 2, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3800 W. 20th St., Greeley. Adult tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Tickets for college students are $5, and children under 18 get in free.
For more information, go to GreeleyChamberOrchestra.org.
11-year-old violinist San Lee tests the acoustics of the Trinity Episcopal Church before a rehearsal with the Greeley Chamber Orchestra in Greeley on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Hence then, the article about 11 year old to perform violin concerto with greeley chamber orchestra was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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