About the Artists

Hyesang Park, Soprano

Hailed by The New York Times for her "bright, clear voice and impressive coloratura technique," and by Le Devoir for a voice that is “sumptuous, of incredible magnitude,” South Korean soprano Hyesang Park is attracting the attention of opera houses and concert presenters worldwide.

In the 2018-2019 season, Hyesang Park returns to the Glyndebourne Festival as Rosina in Rossini's Barbiere di Siviglia, and she makes her role and house debut as Musetta in Barrie Kosky's new production of La bohème at the Komische Oper, Berlin, as well as her debut with the Macau International Festival as Giannetta in L'elisir d'amore. In concert, she will make her Münchner Rundfunkorchester debut as Almira in Rossini's Sigismondo and her Gyeonggi Philharmonic debut in a Mozart arias program led by Massimo Zanetti. Her recital appearances include debuts at both Vocal Arts DC and Alice Tully Hall, as well as a multi-city South Korea tour.

Ms. Park began the 2017-2018 season in both her Bayerische Staatsoper and role debuts as Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte. As part of her final year in The Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she sang Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro and The Dew Fairy in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. She also sang the soprano solo in Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem with St. Thomas Church Concert Series under the leadership of Music Director Daniel Hyde and gave a recital with Ken Noda with the Friends of Chamber Music of Miami. Future engagements include returns to The Metropolitan Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Glyndebourne Festival.

Other recent opera engagements include Ms. Park's Met Opera debut as the First Wood Nymph in Dvořák's Rusalka, her Glyndebourne Festival debut as Najade in Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, and Juliette in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette with the Korea National Opera in Seoul. She has also appeared in concerts with both the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Opera, and gave recital debuts on Canada's ProMusica Dominica Series and Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concert Series. While at Juilliard, Ms. Park also sang Amina in La Sonnambula and Fiorilla in Il Turco in Italia, for which Opera News magazine remarked, “Her solid, refined fioritura delivery was matched by glamour, temperament and, above all, an ability to put bel canto splendor to expressive use.”

Ms. Park's honors and awards include first prize in the April 2016 Gerda Lissner Foundation International Competition, second prize and the Audience Choice Award at the 2015 Montreal International Musical Competition, and winning second place overall in the women's division in Placido Domingo's 2015 International Operalia competition, as well as taking First Prize in the women's Zarzuela. Earlier awards include Fifth Place in the 2014 Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition, First Place at both the 2010 Korea National Opera and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts competitions, and Korea's Minister for Culture Prize. She also served as “Young Artist in Residence” at the 2016 Music & Vin Festival in Beaune, France.

In May 2017, Ms. Park graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City with an Artist Diploma in Opera Studies, a rigorous, prestigious two-year advanced training program. The recipient of a Toulmin Foundation Scholarship, in June 2015 Miss Park earned her Master's Degree from Juilliard. She studied with Edith Bers and participated in masterclasses with Sir Richard Bonynge, Marilyn Horne, Renée Fleming, Renata Scotto, Mariella Devia, and Luciana Serra. She also studied at the Georg Solti Accademia in Italy, and Switzerland's Verbier Festival. Among the distinguished conductors she has worked with are Plácido Domingo, Sigiswald Kuijken and Roland Böer.

Before moving to the United States, Hyesang Park made her professional opera debut as Violetta in La traviata with the Korea National Opera, and also sang the role of Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore with the company. Miss Park earned her Bachelors of Music Degree in Vocal Performance at Seoul National University. She currently resides in New York City.

David Chan, Music Director

As a conductor, Mr. Chan is the Music Director of Camerata Notturna, a role he also serves in for The Montclair Orchestra, a New Jersey-based ensemble noted for its innovative and diverse programming.  He has also directed l'Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne in France, and the festival orchestra of Musique et Vin, which consists of musicians from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and top orchestras in Paris.  As conductor and educator, Mr. Chan works frequently with student orchestras at Juilliard and Mannes conservatories in New York, as well as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan.  Mr. Chan's 2018-19 conducting schedule includes his Carnegie Hall debut, his debut with l'Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège in Belgium, a return engagement with l'Orchestre Dijon Bourgogne, and various concerts in South America and Eastern Europe.

In 2008, combining his love of wine with his passion for music, Mr. Chan co-founded the Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot festival in the Burgundy region of France. As artistic director of the festival, which pairs wine tastings with musical offerings, Mr. Chan has overseen its growth from a small, intimate gathering to a two-week extravaganza that now attracts icons of classical music as its collaborators, including Yo-Yo Ma, Joyce DiDonato, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Emmanuel Pahud, Menahem Pressler, and Cho-Liang Lin.

A native of San Diego, Mr. Chan began his musical education at the age of four. He made his New York debut in 1995 at Avery Fisher Hall, and his Carnegie Hall debut in 2003.  Mr. Chan received his bachelor's degree from Harvard University, and his master's degree from The Juilliard School.  He is now on faculty at The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music, and resides in the New York City area with his wife, violinist Catherine Ro, and their children Annalise, Micah, and Arianna.

David Chan is the concertmaster of the MET Orchestra in New York, a position he has held since 2000 as leader of that renowned ensemble. Widely recognized as a brilliant violinist and one of the leading musicians of his generation, Mr. Chan enjoys a diverse career as conductor, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. His concerts have taken him to leading stages in North America, Europe, and Asia, appearing as soloist under the baton of such conductors as James Levine and Fabio Luisi. He is highly sought after as a chamber musician, performing regularly at the most prestigious summer festivals as well as throughout the New York City area.

Official Website: davidchanmusic.com