Monica Lee was born in Tennessee and began playing the piano at the age of four. After winning numerous state piano competitions and scholarships, she was admitted to the Interlochen Arts Academy at the age of fourteen. At the age of sixteen, she was accepted as an early decision student on full scholarship to the Saint Louis Conservatory of Music to study under the tutelage of Jane Allen. Upon the announcement that the conservatory was permanently closing its doors, she was selected to perform as soloist with the conservatory orchestra for the final concert, which marked her debut performance with orchestra. She continued her training under Nina Svetlanova at the Manhattan School of Music, where she received her Bachelor's Degree of Music, and received her Master's Degree of Music under Jane Allen at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

She has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the world including: Austria, Hungary, Japan, Russia, Canada, and the United States (California, New York, Hawaii, Missouri, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina). Monica currently teaches in San Francisco, where she maintains a full studio. She continues private studies with Dr. William Wellborn, faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.