- My name is Jaeho Lee.

I go to Phillips Academy - Andover, and I play the cello.

(cello playing) (piano playing) (cello playing) I played Beethoven's fourth cello sonata in C major, and I describe it as, it's a typical late Beethoven piece, sort of enigmatic.

It takes advantage of how lyrical the cello is.

It's really beautiful, and then it becomes more driving.

(cello playing) What I find challenging about this piece is mostly two things, the tone quality and the interpretation, so, the tone quality is something that all string players struggle with.

It's a metal string, it's horse hair.

You have to scrape those together and get the best sound possible, especially, in this piece, it's a little hard, because in the second section, there's a lot of articulated notes, and to make those sound full and resonant, that's one of the hardest parts.

(cello playing) The other part is the interpretation.

Beethoven is very particular about all his dynamics, and he sort of expected even when he was alive, that performers would follow all of those dynamics.

(cello playing) My current teacher, Mr. Mark Churchill at the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division, picked this piece for me.

Previously, I hadn't played many sonatas.

This is my second sonata ever.

I think he just wanted me to get into the world of Beethoven sonatas, and discover what they were like, and I think it did the job.

I'm really excited to play more sonatas, specifically, Beethoven sonatas in the future.

(cello playing) My parents recommended that I start a stringed instrument when I was a small child.

The violin was a little too shrill for me, so, I was like, I love the deep sound that the cello makes.

I didn't really think about the size of the instrument or the implication that I'd have to carry it around, but it's been worth it.

I love it, yeah.

(cello playing) Mrs. Beth Ann Arthur nominated me.

She runs the Tri School Orchestra at Koda, Gowana, Acadia at Shen Public School District.

(cello playing) I like to thank my parents for being so supportive.

They drive to the Boston area every week to take me to my music lessons in orchestra and chamber music.

I'd also like to thank Mr. Mark Churchill, my current teacher, for picking this wonderful piece and helping me learn about it.

I'd like to thank, obviously, Mrs. Beth Ann Arthur for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

I'd like to thank Mr.

Rob Brown here at WMHT for giving me this opportunity as well, and I'd like to thank my friends for encouraging me and coming to all of my concerts.

(cello playing)