Joshua Lee: The Harvard Student Uplifting Underrepresented Composers.

Growing up in Hartsdale, New York, Joshua grew up with a love for classical music. However, he was one of the only classical musicians at his school which had limited music programs. He later joined the Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege Program to deepen his musical education. In this space, Joshua was able to finally feel surrounded by other student musicians.

Yet, even in these more advanced spaces, Joshua noticed a troubling pattern: nearly all the composers and faculty he studied from were of European descent. The diversity of the students didn’t match the homogeneity of the curriculum.

That’s what sparked the idea behind Composers Unveiled, a student-led nonprofit bringing music from underrepresented and underserved communities to concert halls and classrooms across the state. Through his organization, he’s helped organize masterclasses, fundraisers, and recurring concert series—all to ensure the next generation of musicians hears a broader and more inclusive story of music.

Here’s Joshua’s journey.

#1: You started as a classical pianist. What inspired you to do more with Composers Unveiled?

Classical music has always struck me deeply—it’s a language that’s both universal and timeless. That emotional connection is what first drew me to pursue music.

But growing up in a low-income area, I didn’t have much access to music education. My school didn’t even have a Tri-M chapter, so I founded one myself.

When I started attending the Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege Program, it was the first time I felt surrounded by people who shared my passion. But even there, I noticed a disconnect. While many of the performers were of different descent, the curriculum and faculty remained overwhelmingly European. The composers we studied, the names in our textbooks—almost all of them came from the same background.

That realization is what inspired me to start Composers Unveiled.

#2: How does your team pick out the composers they want to highlight?

So the genesis of the project started with casual conversations during lunch.

One friend focused on Japanese composers, another loved American jazz history. I’m especially drawn to Latin American jazz and the Asian American jazz movement that emerged in cities like Chicago and New York.

Later, we discovered how rich university databases are.

Most of these names don’t show up on Google or Wikipedia. So we also focused on the unsearchable: composers who are underrepresented not just in textbooks, but in the digital world too.

#3: You started with a group of friends, but eventually launched a full concert series with the Manhattan School of Music. How did that happen?

The first Composers Unveiled concert was almost a disaster.

I had everything planned out, but in the week leading up to the event, almost every performer backed out. I get it—high school students are busy, and things come up. Still, I was panicking. But then, one studio at MSM—whose teacher had already been encouraging students to learn underrepresented repertoire—stepped in to help. They brought five performers to join the three I had left, and that saved the concert.

It turned out to be a huge success. The Dean of Youth Admissions came. So did the Provost and the President. My teacher was proud. My family was there.

Another major turning point was when I decided to reach out to the Pre-College Director. I saw him in the hallways all the time and he was really chill. So I thought, “If not me, who else is going to ask?”

So I sent him a quick email asking if he had 5–10 minutes to hear an idea I had. He ended up being so excited over Composers Unveiled. In fact, he’s the one who suggested turning Composers Unveiled into a recurring concert series hosted by the school. I hadn’t even considered that at the time.

It just goes to show you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to people.

#4: What’s another really-specific subject you’re interested in outside of classical music?

East Asian history—specifically Peking Opera. It’s something I’ve been fascinated by for a long time. I actually wrote a couple of papers on it that were published in the Wittenberg Journal of East Asian Studies. What draws me in is how deeply Peking Opera has influenced China’s socio-political landscape—from the 1400s to today.

I also have a habit of falling down internet rabbit holes. One time I got really into researching Shostakovich and his connection to Soviet sports and soccer.

That’s one of the reasons I loved visiting Harvard. Everyone there is wildly curious in their own way. I have friends who study lucid dreaming, others who perform jazz gigs weekly, and some who literally work with particle accelerators. Everyone’s interests are so different and that is what excites me most.

#5: What advice would you give to high schoolers figuring out their path?

First: just start. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. My first Composers Unveiled booklet had printing errors and a logo I still regret. But that didn’t matter in the end. People remember how something made them feel.

Second: don’t be so critical of yourself. You’re still building who you are.

I’ve always struggled with insecurity, and I still do. But what keeps me going is remembering that even if you fail, the time spent doing something real is never wasted.

Also—look up at the sky more. We go through life so focused on goals and expectations that we miss how beautiful the world can be in its simplest moments. Eat good food. Listen to silence. Appreciate the view.

#6: You’ve talked openly about tackling rejection and imperfection as a high school student. Can you share more?

A lot of people rejected me when I first started this work. But I kept following up. Some of those same people later said yes.

I don’t believe rejection is failure—it’s redirection. And even if Composers Unveiled hadn’t grown the way it did, I would’ve kept going. Doing anything enough leads to growth.

Passion projects should be rooted in something authentic, not what you think colleges want. People can tell when something isn’t real. So do something you actually love—or at least something you’re deeply curious about. That’s what sustains you when things get hard.

Want to start a project like Joshua’s?

If you’re a high school student looking to build something meaningful—and craft a standout application for top universities—we can help.

Keep up with Joshua:

• Joshua’s Linked-In

• Composers Unveiled