B.A. Music & Political Science, Furman University; Further Graduate Studies: University of Maryland; Non-profit Management Certificate, Georgetown University.
A multipassionate leader who bridges the worlds of policy, communications, and music education, Andrew Lee is an accomplished arts administrator, musician, and communications strategist with deep roots in DC. Lee currently serves as executive director of the Washington Conservatory of Music, where he provides operational and strategic oversight for the renowned conservatory. Andrew is a professional musician and administrator having performed 3x/in Carnegie Hall as a pianist and violinist and multiple tours w/local and national orchestras. In addition to his work as a musician and educator, he has also held leadership roles with The Colour of Music Festival, Gateways Music Festival and Sphinx Organization.
Andrew’s work with DC Strings Workshop, a non-profit he founded in 2017 and scaled from inception to +$2M in a few years serving thousands of students, producing hundreds of orchestra concerts and recitals which led to features in local and national media outlets including orchestral and performance appearances at The Kennedy Center, Dumbarton Oaks and collaborations with Washington Performing Arts and the National Park Service. He is most proud of a partnership which featured young students on the back of a Kit-Kat bar celebrating young musicians from across the country. This success exemplifies his unique ability to not only provide stewardship and leadership over the arts, but to galvanize patrons, donors, and staff to move transformational initiatives forward.
While varied and diverse, Andrew’s experience centers on advancing the quality, creativity, and sustainability of arts organizations, both in the DC area and nationwide. He brings a vision and perspective, informed by a successful career in the arts and communications, that enables him to bring together artists, audiences, and philanthropists in new ways, charting a vision for the future that extends beyond programming or performances and honors the importance of arts education at national scale.
In June 2024, the League of American Orchestras selected Andrew as one of thirty orchestra professionals for its prestigious Orchestra Management Essentials program at Juilliard. The program is widely considered the orchestra field’s premier program for cultivating the potential of rising professionals. Through collaboration across a national cohort, industry-specific leadership projects, and dynamic mentoring from top industry professionals, members of the cohort shape and influence the orchestra world as it evolves to meet changing needs and audiences.
Andrew serves as a Trustee and Vice-President of The Frederick Douglass Historic & Memorial Association and is on the Junior Board of Washington Performing Arts. Other notable achievements include Andrew completing a Nonprofit Executive Leadership Program at Georgetown University. Andrew and his wife have (2) young children.
