MATTHEW LEE is an active freelance musician in the Chicago area. In addition to his position with the Chicago Brass Quintet he is principal trumpet of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and a member of the critically acclaimed Millar Brass Ensemble, Tower Brass and Chicago Sinfonietta. He frequently performs for the Joffrey Ballet and as an extra and substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony and the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago.

As a soloist, Lee has performed with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and the Woodstock Mozart Festival. The winner of the Civic Orchestra concerto competition Lee was also a semi-finalist in the Maurice Andre International Trumpet Competition held in Paris, France and has also been in the final rounds of the New York Concert Artists Guild competition. Howard Reich of the Chicago Sun Times praised his performance of the Concerto in D by G.P. Telemann as "light, bright.........a real tour de force."

In addition to his active career in Chicago as a performer, Lee teaches at DePaul University and Elmhurst College. He has been a guest clinician at many schools including Baylor University, Sam Houston State University, Western Illinois University and Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Abroad, he has given recitals and master-classes in Germany, Norway, Taiwan and Brazil.

Lee attended Western Illinois University receiving a bachelor of music degree studying with William DeJong. He received his master's degree in performance from Northwestern University studying with Vincent Cichowicz. His other principal teacher was Adolph Herseth.