Alysia Lee,
FOUNDER & Artistic Director

Alysia Lee – Conductor | Composer | Citizen Artist

Alysia Lee is a nationally acclaimed conductor, composer, and Kennedy Center Citizen Artist known for her powerful musical leadership and values-driven artistry. Her work centers Black brilliance, collective learning, and the transformative power of music to spark social change. She is the Founder of Sister Cities Girlchoir, an El Sistema-inspired choral program for girls that has empowered hundreds of singers across cities through a unique blend of musical excellence and youth development.

Alysia is a frequent guest conductor with leading ensembles across the country, including the LA Master Chorale, Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, and Boston Children’s Chorus. Her choral composition “Say Her Name” is published by Hal Leonard, and she has received commissions from the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and Portland Lesbian Choir.

She previously served as the Fine Arts Education Specialist at the Maryland State Department of Education, where she led statewide arts education policy and was recognized nationally for her leadership at the intersection of equity and the arts. Alysia also serves on the board of Chorus America and is a widely sought-after national speaker and facilitator in the arts and education sectors.

In addition to her artistic work, Alysia is the inaugural President & CEO of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, where she leads one of the nation’s most innovative public philanthropic organizations investing in youth leadership, justice, and creativity. Whether on the podium or in the boardroom, Alysia leads with integrity, imagination, and audacity—bringing people together through music and movement to build a more just world.

A Baltimore native, Lee is an alumna of Maryland schools, including George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina School for the Arts and a graduate degree from Peabody Conservatory. In 2011, Lee was selected from an international pool of applicants to the third cohort of the Sistema Fellowship at New England Conservatory. Alysia also completed Executive Education programs at Harvard University and La Salle University. alysialee.com