'Bach' to school: Young cellist accepted to prestigious music program (Video)

THUNDER BAY – Grace Lee, a talented 16-year-old cellist, is set to take a major step in her musical journey this fall as she heads to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, a boarding school for young artists located in Michigan.

For Lee, attending Interlochen — which boasts alumni including Chapell Roan and Norah Jones — means stepping into a world where she can grow alongside equally passionate and talented peers.

“I'm really looking forward to being surrounded by some of the best musicians,” Lee said.

Lee has been playing the cello for over eight years and currently studies under Marc Palmquist, the principal cellist of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Lee’s passion for music is deeply rooted in family; her mother, Madonna Lee, is a former violinist with the local symphony.

“This is an arts boarding school, so it's not just for music,” Lee said. “There is theatre, dance, opera, composing, and I'm very excited to go. I didn't think that I would get in at all, but I did, so I'm going to give it a go.”

The application process was both rigorous and rewarding, she said.

“I had to do three essays, and then I submitted three different pieces, about 15 minutes total for my audition,” Lee explained.

One of those audition pieces was a movement by Bach, a composer whose music Lee connects with on a personal level.

“I practiced for quite a while, because I used the same piece to audition for all the schools I applied to last year,” Lee said. “I practiced it for a couple of months. I really like Bach, I really feel it, you know, in my soul. So yeah, I was quite excited to play it.”

While her journey is just beginning, Lee has already set her sights on the future.

“I mean, I think a great orchestra after this, or even just a great university,” Lee said. “Yeah, I think that Interlochen is a great stepping stone for that.”

To help offset the cost of tuition, Lee is planning a fundraising concert during the Christmas break.