For years, I presented polished bios—quotes, accolades, the kind of things that sound impressive. Not because they defined me, but because they helped shape perception. These days, I stay near what is quietly true.
I make music because it brings me close to something deeper—beyond words, status, or applause. It reminds me that meaning isn’t something we invent, but something we uncover, as if it had been waiting all along. And the search itself—the still, eternal reaching—has become its own reward. I remain drawn to it. That’s why I continue.
I’m grateful to make music with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as one among many artists I’ve grown fond of over the past 20 years. We come from different walks of life, but when we play, there are no divisions—only a shared voice. That kind of unity feels rare. And real.
The music I love most doesn’t just move an audience—it reveals something timeless. Composers like Mahler, Shostakovich, Gershwin, John Williams… their work echoes the weight and wonder of being human in a world full of tension and beauty. I try to meet that with reverence each time I play.
If you’re here, thank you—for listening. For honoring what doesn’t ask to be seen. For valuing what’s honest, unspoken, and free.
—Daniel Lee
