Bio

Kate Lee

(Singer, songwriter, fiddler, classically trained in violin and voice)

Seventeen has truly been "sweeet" so far for Kate Lee. The path traveled has been layered with success stories. Beginning in her early days, getting her musical feet wet in the local coffee houses to playing openers for major recording artists such as Rhonda Vincent, Nothin' Fancy and Jay Ungar. Kate Lee has artfully navigated her path with bookings at major venues such as the coveted Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, and other bluegrass festivals in Wind Gap, PA, Remington Ryde, in Reedsville, PA, and New York festivals in Sodus and Brantling. Kate Lee has also been honored to be one of the youngest to perform at the famous Bluebird Café and Commodore Grill in Nashville, TN.

Kate Lee has competed in numerous competitions for voice, fiddle, violin and songwriting. Competitions include the Grandmaster Fiddle Competition in Nashville, to winning the Grand Prize in a New York songwriting contest for her original song, "Beige". Kate Lee's latest triumph was to audition and win the 2009 Star Search competition for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Kate Lee is set to perform her CD title track, "On Your Way" with the RPO under the direction of Jeff Tyzik, at the renowned Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY. Kate Lee is also planning her return to Nashville in the spring of 2009 bringing with her a demo containing a few more of her latest musical creations. Kate Lee was called for a return performance at the Bluebird Café and Commodore Grill. Still another accomplishment to her credit is winning a scholarship to the Augusta Heritage Bluegrass Camp, in West Virginia, where she was honored to receive lessons from the legendary fiddler of Bill Monroe's band, Bobby Hicks.

Kate Lee and band, No Strings Attached, currently have two CDS, "On Your Way" and the most recent, "Kate Lee LIVE" which was recorded live during their performance at the PBS WXXI television presentation, "On Stage", which is also available in DVD format. Kate Lee continues to write her own originals as well as preparing her college music audition pieces in both violin and voice. Kate holds a status of High Honors with Distinction and is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She has numerous academic awards to her credit, her most recent as the recipient of the Future Women Leaders of America scholarship.

Kate Lee brings a fresh unique sound to the music table. Her classical training supports a hardworking, honest approach to the well crafted songs she writes and performs. Kate Lee, who, like her song states, "Just can't do Beige!".

NO STRINGS ATTACHED BAND
BIOGRAPHY

CHUCK BODA
Bass - Chuck's musical roots began at home, inspired by his Father's country/western guitar playing & his Mother's ukulele playing. After several years of playing rock & roll, he discovered bluegrass & folk music. Chuck has played with several bluegrass bands such as North Forty, Borrowed Time and Cabin Fever.

BEN FORD
Guitar, banjo, mandolin, cittern -Ben has played in various bluegrass bands such as Borrowed Time and Cabin Fever, as well as act as guitar accompanist at the Kanack School of Music. He can never get enough practice and always strives for improvement for the band as a whole. Most recently Ben has contributed with his own original songwriting.

JOHN IRVINE
Banjo, mandolin - John is the latest "string" to join the group. He's noted around town as "a monster banjo and mandolin player". John has played in numerous bluegrass bands, such as, Cuttin' the Grass. You can bet that things are bound to get lively when John is on board!

BEN PROCTOR
Performer, choir director, instrumental music teacher, and church music director with a nearly debilitating addiction to 5-string banjo. ?He attended the Eastman School of Music in hope of a cure for this disease, but graduated despite falling even deeper into dependency. ?He joined the Kate Lee band to continue his head first plunge off the wagon.