Hailed as a 'miracle' by Gramophone, Trey Lee enthrals audiences with a virtuosity that combines intellectual sophistication with a profound depth of emotions. His concerto debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage won him a standing ovation, with New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini declaring him 'the excellent cellist … with enveloping richness and lyrical sensitivity'. The late Lorin Maazel praised him as 'a marvellous protagonist … a superb cellist' after conducting Trey in Haydn’s C major Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Highlights of 2023 and 2024 include touring abroad with the Camerata Salzburg, English Chamber Orchestra, and solo engagements in Vienna, London, Paris, Milan, Budapest, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Trey has worked with notable musicians and groups that include conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Bashmet, Mikko Franck, Hannu Lintu, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Vassily Sinaisky, Dima Slobodeniouk, the orchestras BBC Philharmonic, Philharmonic Orchestra Radio France, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Moscow Soloists, and chamber orchestras of London, Mantova, Munich, Stuttgart and Romanian Radio.

Seeking to increase the expressive possibilities of the cello, Trey has re-arranged works including Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, which he debuted with the Trondheim Soloists and followed with a tour of Norway. Wang Liping’s The Dream of the Red Chamber Capriccio, co-rearranged by Trey, was premiered by Leonard Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2017. Furthermore, Trey has given world premieres of two pieces dedicated to him: Bright Sheng’s The Blazing Mirage (recorded for Naxos) and contemporary Finnish composer Kirmo Lintinen’s Cello Concerto. As an avid chamber musician, Trey is a member of Canada’s award-winning piano quartet, Ensemble Made in Canada (known as EMIC).

Trey is a laureate of major international competitions, including First Prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition. His debut and recital albums were distributed by EMI with critical acclaim. In addition, Trey has been featured on multiple media outlets including a recital recorded for Deutsche Welle during the Covid lockdown.

Trey often performs at major events in support of various causes, including the launch of The IMAGINE Project with Yoko Ono, Hugh Jackman and ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the UN General Assembly Hall. He is the founding artistic director of Musicus Society, which promotes cross-cultural collaboration of music internationally through performances and by nurturing young artists from Hong Kong.