Dr. Christopher D. Lee (BM University of Maryland, MM, and DMA University of South Carolina) is the manager, lead pan player and co-founder of the Island Close By Steel Band and Island Close By Jazz. He is the principal percussionist with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with the Savannah, Augusta, Charlotte, Charleston, Greenville, Hilton Head and Atlanta Symphonies as well as Roger Williams, Roger Pemberton, Dick Goodwin, Bert Ligon, The Moody Blues, Ray Charles, John Valerio, Shirley Jones, and the Garfield Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.

As an educator, Lee has taught at the University of South Carolina, Lander University, Claflin University, Logan Elementary, Cadets of Bergen County, Star of Indiana, Carolina Crown and is presently director of the Shamrocks Steel Band and music teacher at Eau Claire High School. He performed his composition Sorsornet at the 2001 Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention and continues to explore the integration of music with dance and visual arts. An active clinician for the Pearl Corporation, Avedis Zildjian Co., Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, South Carolina Arts Commission and the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, he conducts summer workshops, clinics/master classes and school residencies throughout the Southeastern United States.