_{Artist of the Week} 20 Qs for Jennifer Tung

When was your first singing lesson (and with whom)?
I first started singing lessons when I was 15 and it was with my then school teacher (in Hong Kong): Ms Stephanie Chan. I started conducting lessons in 2016 with Maestro Denis Mastromonaco.

What/who inspired you to sing?
I never thought of studying singing. My secondary school in Hong Kong (St. Paul’s Co-Educational College) has a robust choral program. After singing in the choirs for several years, I was told by many people that I have a nice voice and should start singing lessons. That’s how I started. As for conducting, my school – and later voice teacher, who also conducted the school choirs – was my inspiration to conduct.

Favourite city you have worked in?
There are honestly many, but I think the one that tops the list is Kona, Hawaii with breathtaking views every day and my favourite McDonald’s breakfast (scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage, spam and white rice)… always my first breakfast after my arrival.

What is the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage?
When I was ten years old, I was competing in the finals of an all-Asia piano competition in Guangzhou, China. I was playing a Haydn sonata when a big board (separating the stage and backstage) fell. It made a huge bang and everyone was startled… I somehow just continued playing without even flinching. 

What’s your favourite orchestral instrument?
I think all instruments have their unique and amazing quality. If I have to pick one, it would be cello. The mellow and soulful sound gets me every time. Also, my older sister used to play cello in school 

Tent or hotel?
Hotel – 1000%

What was the first opera you ever saw?
Bellini’s Norma. 

What’s your favourite non-classical band?
Air Supply. It was my older sister’s favourite band, so I was exposed a lot to that music when I was little. 

Where did you go to school?
I did both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Eastman School of Music.

What’s the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you?
My first and only year attending Songfest in California as a professional pianist fellow, one of the professional coaches for the young artist program (the following week) had to withdraw suddenly. I ended getting hired for that position, changed my ticket and stayed for another week, and I have been teaching on and off there for several years. One of the years I was teaching there, the scheduler of the program was also the scheduler of another summer program in Hawaii. I ended working for that festival as well for a number of years. They were the ones that gave me my first opera production as music director/conductor (The Mikado).

What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?
As an opera conductor, I love working with many singers from different backgrounds and walks of life. It’s also exciting to make art in different places around the world.

What was your childhood dream job?
Physicist researching black holes. (It didn’t work out too well as I was not the most brilliant in mathematics – LOL.)

Are you a dog or cat person?
100% dog person. I have two beautiful pups – an eight-year-old husky retriever mix named Justice and a five-year-old Doberman Pinscher namec Jupiter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What’s your guilty pleasure?
Eating pie/pastry and watching Legally Blonde.

When did you know you wanted to be a conductor?
I knew I loved conducting at around 16 but was discouraged then to pursue the profession. I was reminded of this passion again when I was given the chance to conduct the RCM community choir. When I start lessons with Maestro Mastromonaco and stepped in the orchestra pit for the first time for a rehearsal of Carmen, I knew I was hooked for life!!

What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am actually much more of an introvert than what most people think. I am much more comfortable in small gatherings, but I have definitely learned to feel comfortable around big gatherings over the years.

The music industry is tough, and filled with rejection. How do you cope? Does it get easier?
Definitely my faith. Believing that every opportunity I am accepted into or rejected from are meant to be that way. I don’t think it gets easier necessarily, but I have definitely learned to process them better.

What does it mean to be brave in music?
To remain true and vulnerable to myself and what I believe in/want to communicate through music. Staying absolutely honest to myself even if it means not having the most popular opinion.

What does success look like to you?
To be able to make a positive impact to my cast, crew, orchestra, audience in projects I have the privilege to be involved in.

Favourite social media platform?
Instagram.