BSO Appoints Ivan Stefanovic as Associate Principal 2nd Violin, Angela Lee as Asst. Principal 2nd Violin

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announces the promotion of Assistant Principal Second Violin Ivan Stefanovic to Associate Principal Second Violin, and the appointment of Angela Lee to the position of Assistant Principal Second Violin.

Ivan Stefanovic joined the second violin section of the BSO in 1991, and has held the post of assistant principal since 2004. During his tenure with the BSO, he has performed on two European tours, one Japanese tour and participated in several BSO recordings. Mr. Stefanovic commented about his new post, “I have been privileged to be a member of this great orchestra since 1991. Then, at age 21, I never would have guessed I’d be living here with my wife and three great boys, enjoying this stellar city and being recognized in such a way by this great ensemble. I look forward to continuing with the BSO in my new role.”

Prior to her BSO appointment, Angela Lee was a fellow with the New World Symphony, often serving as one of the rotating concertmasters under Michael Tilson Thomas. Ms. Lee brings a wide array of performance experience to the BSO, including numerous music festivals (Verbier Music Festival in Switzerland, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival’s Russian/American tour), as a substitute player in ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony, and as a principal member of the New York-based Philharmonic Orchestra of Americas (POA). Ms. Lee said of her appointment, "I am so excited to become a member of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. I look forward to contributing to the second violins and growing as an artist. There is nothing better than making great music with other wonderful musicians in the orchestra and I am really grateful to be part of it."

Ivan Stefanovic, Associate Principal Second Violin

Ivan Stefanovic was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and began his violin studies at the age of five. At 16, he came to the United States to continue his education at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with David Cerone, Victor Danchenko, David Updegraff and Cathleen Winkler. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1989 and an Artist Diploma in 1991, both with honors, from the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2003, the Cleveland Institute of Music awarded him an Alumni Achievement Award “in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the fields of Violin Orchestral and Chamber Music Performance.”

As a soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Stefanovic has won many first prizes in local and national competitions in Yugoslavia. He has performed numerous times as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Radio and TV Belgrade and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. He has made live recordings for Radio and TV Belgrade, Radio Yugoslavia and WCLV in Cleveland, in addition to numerous solo and chamber music recitals in Yugoslavia, Spain, and the United States.

Mr. Stefanovic is Principal Second Violin of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, a baroque violinist in Pro Musica Rara, and a co-founder and co-Artistic Director of “Chamber Music by Candlelight,” a series featuring BSO members. He is a violin teacher and chamber music coach, and conducts orchestra sectionals, at both the Preparatory Department of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and Baltimore School for the Arts. He has conducted master classes throughout the United States and Japan.

Mr. Stefanovic joined the second violin section of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1991, moving up to third chair a year later. In 2004, Maestro Yuri Temirkanov named him Assistant Principal Second Violin, the first person to hold that title in the history of the BSO.

About Angela Lee

Angela Lee, a native of Korea, began studying violin at the age of seven in Carrara School of Music in Carrara, Italy, where her father, a famous Korean sculptor, served at the Carrara Art School as a visiting professor.

Ms. Lee earned a Bachelor’s of Music degree in 2007 from Seoul National University in Korea and later that year moved to the United States to attend the Manhattan School of Music, where she earned her Master’s of Music degree and Professional Studies Certificate in Orchestral Performance. Her primary teachers were Glenn Dicterow, Concertmaster of New York Philharmonic and Lisa Kim, Associate Principal Second Violin of New York Philharmonic.

As a substitute player in ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony, she has maintained an active performing career in New York. She was a principal member of the New York-based Philharmonic Orchestra of Americas (POA). She played a vital role as the ensemble released a recording, Mi Alma Mexicana, on the SONY label, and joined them on their Mexican tour, participating in the bicentennial celebrations for millions in attendance. Ms. Lee was a visiting artist of National Symphony of the Dominican Republic led by French pianist and conductor Philippe Entremont.

Prior to her post with the Baltimore Symphony, she completed her fellowship with the New World Symphony, having often served as one of the rotating concertmasters, working under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas.

She has participated in numerous music festivals including Verbier Music Festival in Switzerland and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. She has also participated in Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival’s Russian/American tour.