Kelsey Lee has been selected to be the recipient of the Eastman School of Music’s 2021-22 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award, which is given to an outstanding music major in recognition of excellence and merit. A significant accomplishment for a student pursuing a dual degree with a second major in Optical Engineering. Congratulations!!
Kelsey Lee ’23 is pursuing one of the hardest degree combinations imaginable–and is excelling in both. The Eastman dual degree program student, majoring in piano performance and optical engineering, was recently named recipient of a prestigious Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award, given to students who show a high level of academic and musical accomplishment and embody the qualities of leadership and citizenship.
Our University is unique in having internationally recognized programs of both music and optics. Kelsey is making the most of this opportunity to pursue her passion for music and explore an exciting way to apply her love for physics and mathematics. She’s studying piano with Marina Lomazov, an Eastman School professor whose charismatic performances have won critical acclaim. Kelsey recently began working in the lab of Jaime Cardenas, assistant professor of optics, with PhD student Xiaotong He, on a project that involves applying electrical signals to micro ring resonators to change the frequency of light after it is emitted by a laser.
Though she foresees a career in optics, piano will remain an important part of her life, Kelsey says. Learn more.