Meet the 17 year-old Canberran trumpeter attending Juilliard
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Meet 17-year old Jade Park, the talented trumpeter who is changing the tune of music in Canberra.
Graduating from St Andrew’s Cathedral School last year, the Nicholls local established herself and strengthened her talent at the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Symphonists program, as well as the Australian Youth Orchestra Autumn and Winter Seasons and National Music Camps.
And in some exciting news, Jade recently secured a place at the Juilliard School in New York as a Kovner Fellow, a comprehensive scholarship that supports outstanding music students to develop as future leaders within the field.
We spent some time with Jade to talk about her love of music and her journey to Juilliard.
You have been playing the trumpet since you were three years old. What is it about the instrument that you love and keeps you inspired?
My love for the instrument has only grown with time. I am intrigued by its versatility in being able to capture and communicate a host of emotions. The trumpet can be bright and brilliant, corralling people to action (imagine a fanfare), but can also comfort and soothe through its warm and mellow tones that envelop you. This versatility makes the instrument both alluring and mysterious – you never know if you have reached the boundaries of what is possible.
You have participated in a number of Australian Youth Orchestra programs since 2022 – tell us about the experience and what you gained from it.
The Young Symphonists’ program brings together skilled musicians from around Australia for one week, during which we have intensive rehearsals and sectionals under the guidance of inspirational mentors and conductors. This culminates in a performance to a captivated audience of friends, family and music lovers.
The experience has been invaluable but most critical are the ensemble skills required in an orchestra. I was able to hone in the ability to listen to other instruments within the orchestra. For example, an instrument from the other side of the orchestra may be performing the same melody as you, in which case you would need to listen to each other, and seek to match tone, rhythm, articulation, style and have the correct intonation, in order to produce one coherent and harmonious melody to the audience. This awareness also dictates things such as your dynamics – should you play softer, to allow the melody to shine, or louder, so that your line floats above the top of all the other instruments? Performing within an orchestra requires teamwork, to produce a whole greater than the composite parts.
What would you tell other young musicians considering applying for this program?
It’s an opportunity that cannot be missed. The atmosphere is friendly, exciting and encouraging and I look back on my experience of it very fondly.
The Young Symphonists’ program will help you develop into a musician that contributes to the Australian music landscape. Along with exposing you to the orchestral dynamic and a combination of classical and modern repertoire, you will also be able to form lifelong friendships with talented musicians from around Australia and develop connections with renowned musicians who are your mentors.
Do you think enthusiasm for classical music needs to be revived in young people?
There is a timeless quality about classical music that has made it an integral part of our society, so I think it will continue to be part of the cultural landscape for generations to come. While performing as part of the Young Symphonists, I felt alive to the power of live orchestral performances to capture, organise and express emotions, dreams and desires, connecting and transporting the audience to another world. It’s a powerful art form that allows humanity to understand, digest, connect with each other, and comprehend life. So I believe it will continue to be a treasured part of our existence.
What has been the most memorable of your performances so far and why?
The time I performed at the winner’s concert of the Vienna International Music Competition at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria – a beautiful venue steeped with rich artistic history. The tall white walls, complemented by gold embellishment and lining gave the aura of angelic heavenliness, and the high ceilings let the notes of the trumpet resonate through the building.
This concert brought together performers from all over the world who, despite our geographic separation and cultural differences, shared a common love and appreciation for music. It was incredible to see how this passion brought us together, truly reflecting the connecting thread that music is. Moments like these continue to encourage me to excel in the instrument to share this beauty with others throughout the world.
What are your ambitions?
I am so grateful for the opportunities given by programs such as AYO, and the comprehensive scholarship from the Juilliard School of Music. Whilst in New York, I am hoping to perform as a soloist with the orchestra, and aiming to release my own trumpet album!
What do you do when you’re not playing music?
I bake! Cakes, cookies, pastries, and other sweets! In between practice sessions the sweet scents often waft through the house. I also enjoy basketball and spending time with friends and family.
Do you have any upcoming concerts?
I will be in Japan in August at the International Women’s Brass Conference where I am presenting works such as the Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto, Hummel Trumpet Concerto and Carnival of Venice by Arbans. After this, I will also be performing in Michigan in the USA as one of the eight finalists selected in the Ellsworth Smith Competition, one of the most prestigious international trumpet competitions.
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