Inspired by her mother, a pianist, Margaret “Peggy” Kendig Lee knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue music professionally. She particularly wanted to help others discover their own connection to the art, so she set out to become a music teacher. The first stop on her journey was the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in music and a Master of Education in 1964 and 1965, respectively. Ms. Lee then obtained a Master of Arts in musicology from the University of Georgia in 1977 and became certified by the Georgia Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association. She also studied under a number of great pianists, including Walter Houtzing.
Ms. Lee’s hard work and reputation for excellence paid off almost immediately. She landed her first position in her field at Upper Darby Public Schools in Pennsylvania in 1965, and after two years, she transferred to Edmonton Public Schools in Canada. Ms. Lee moved again in 1969, this time to Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts. She spent three years in the district before deciding it was time for something a little different. Although Ms. Lee loved working with children in the classroom, she really wanted to work in an environment that was more independent and personal. She opened her own private studio, Peggy Lee Piano, in 1973, and has been there ever since.
The highlight of Ms. Lee’s career is seeing her students achieve their goals. Their excitement over reaching personal milestones is extremely rewarding to her, especially since she always stresses the importance of growth and of making music for the love of it rather than for external reasons. Some of her other notable achievements include authoring “Vihuela Music” and serving as the president of the Athens Music Teachers Association.
When Ms. Lee isn’t teaching, she enjoys reading, gourmet cooking, and spending time with her family. Her daughter, Jennifer, is a violinist, and her son-in-law is a cello player. Her granddaughter, Emily, is currently learning both the piano and the violin. Additionally, Ms. Lee has been the vice president of auditions for the Georgia Music Teachers Association since 2005.
