Wei, Catron to Perform in Faculty Recital at Lee University

Cleveland, TN (09/17/2026) — Lee University's School of Music will feature Dr. Vanessa Wei and Dr. Amy Catron in a faculty recital on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall located in Lee's Humanities Center.

This recital is the second and final installment of the complete Beethoven cello sonata and variation cycle, concluding the performance of all five sonatas and three sets of variations for cello and piano.

"What I love about this program is the contrast between Beethoven's youthful G Minor Sonata and the remarkably forward-looking Op. 102 sonatas, written nearly two decades later," said Wei. "The two sets of variations, both based on themes from Mozart's 'The Magic Flute', add a lighter and more playful side of Beethoven to the program."

The performance will feature "Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 5, No. 2," 12 Variations on "Ein Madchen oder Weibchen" from Mozart's "The Magic Flute," Op. 66, 7 Variations on "Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen," from Mozart's "The Magic Flute," WoO 46, "Sonata in C Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 102, No. 1," and "Sonata in D Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 102, No. 2."

Wei is an assistant professor of piano and piano area coordinator at Lee and a Steinway Artist. She has earned international recognition as both a soloist and collaborative pianist. At Lee, she teaches applied piano, piano literature, and piano pedagogy. Prior to Lee, she served as a guest professor at China West Normal University and piano faculty at New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy, and worked in various piano teaching assistant instructional roles at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from the China Conservatory of Music.

Catron currently serves as string area coordinator and assistant teaching professor of cello at Mississippi State University and is an accomplished cellist, researcher, and pedagogue. She has appeared as a soloist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (Florida), the Illinois Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, the Illini Symphony, and the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana. She previously served as a member of the Naples Philharmonic, and her CD, "Particles and Prayer," earned a silver medal in the Global Music Awards in 2019.

She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from Boston University, as well as performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Akron.

The recital is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will be available at leeu.live.

For more information about the recital, contact the School of Music at musicinfo@leeuniversity.edu or call (423) 614-8240.

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