Tyler Lee competes at the 2006 LISMA music festival
One of our outstanding student members, vocalist Tyler Lee, recently placed third in the LISMA international music competition. This competition is part of the international Long Island Conservatory-Music, Arts and Language music festival held annually, which brings together some of the most talented musicians of today’s youth.
Prior to the LISMA competition, Tyler Lee spent three weeks in a summer program where he worked on Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” to further develop his vocal expertise. At the competition Tyler performed both a German and an Italian aria, placing third out of eighteen students. Students must submit a recording of themselves to apply for a spot in the festival, and this rigorous process draws talent from across the globe. Based on his outstanding performance at LISMA, Tyler has been invited to sing with the top five musicians in New York City this winter.
Tyler’s success as an artist should be no surprise since he has been passionate about music his entire life. In second grade he sang as a soprano and now competes as a tenor. In third grade Tyler held a spot on a Disney show entitled Out of the Box, where he performed both song and dance. Today Tyler participates in Crescendo, his school choir at Calhoun High, which is the defending Atlantic Coast champion and is heading to Florida this year for the national competition. Tyler is also involved in his school’s concert choir.
Already looking ahead, Tyler is passionate about pursuing music as his career. He is currently enrolled in classes at Boces Cultural Art Center, a college music program that prepares students for further education by teaching skills in auditioning and offering college fair opportunities. After participating in the Westminster Choir college program this past summer, he is very interested in attending Westminster when he graduated from high school. Tyler’s ambitions do not stop there; he aspires to be a professional singer and perform at the MET in the coming years.
In addition to his success, Tyler is a great example of perseverance. One of his greatest struggles has been learning to cope with his mild case of Tourette's Syndrome. Tyler practices healthy lifestyle habits and takes a unique mix of vitamins in order to keep himself poised and controlled when performing. Tyler says that the stage is where he truly finds his freedom.
Tyler’s greatest influences include his favorite classical singer Luciano Pavarotti and his greatest fan and mentor, his mother. When asked to offer some advice for our other musically-inclined NSHSS members, Tyler replied with these words of wisdom, “You are the only person who can help you. There are other people that will aid you in your journey through the arts and voice, but ultimately it is you who has to do the work. You will go through struggles but the harder the journey the better the destination.”