Lee Volckhausen began her studies in New York with Hendrik de Vries, and later continued at the Manhattan School of Music with Harold Bennett. During this time she won numerous awards and competitions. In New York, she was a member of the Parnassus Contemporary Ensemble, The Galliard Woodwind Quintet, The Elysian Ensemble and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. She was the principal flautist at the Orquestra Filarmonica de Caracas before joining the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.