Violinist Janet Sung appointed artistic director of Meadowmount School of Music

Meadowmount School of Music has appointed violinist Janet Sung as artistic director. She began her new role on 15 December 2021. 

Sung enjoys an acclaimed international career and has performed worldwide with orchestras and at distinguished festivals across the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She is currently head of strings and violin professor at the DePaul University School of Music in Chicago and also artistic director and founder of Chamber Music Chicago. 

She says, ’I am honoured to be joining the Meadowmount School of Music as their new artistic director. When Ivan Galamian founded Meadowmount, he wanted students to experience total immersion in their studies, which has subsequently influenced some of the greatest musicians performing today. Meadowmount creates a truly transformative experience for musicians, something I witnessed firsthand when I attended for several summers as a young student and met one of my long-time teachers and mentors, Josef Gingold. I’m excited to help guide the evolution of Meadowmount into the future and shape the next generation of talented young artists.’

Sung studied with Josef Gingold, Dorothy DeLay, and Masao Kawasaki, with additional studies under Eugene Phillips and the Juilliard Quartet. She graduated from Harvard University with degrees in anthropology and music, as well as The Juilliard School. She has released solo recordings for Sono Luminus and SOMM Recordings. She plays a c.1600 Maggini violin crafted in Brescia, Italy.

’Janet is a superb musician, a brilliant teacher, and a dynamic and creative leader with a deep commitment to the development of young artists, and we are absolutely thrilled that she is coming to Meadowmount,’ said Meadowmount board president Earl Carlyss, violinist of The Juilliard String Quartet and one-time teaching assistant to Ivan Galamian. ’Janet brings her unique vision to lead Meadowmount’s renowned musical program as we continue to be a centre of intensive string study and development at the highest level.’

Founded in 1944 by master teacher Ivan Galamian, Meadowmount School of Music offers a seven-week summer programme in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York for young violinists, violists and cellists training for professional careers in music. Musicians ages 13 to 30+ from across the globe engage in intensive study and practice to further their musical skills. Alumni over the school’s 77-year history includes Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Pinchas Zukerman, Kyung-Wha Chung, Lynn Harrell, Joshua Bell, Jaime Laredo, and Ani and Ida Kavafian.