New World School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra Concert

Maestro Hyunjee Chung (conductor, violinist) is a sought-after musician for her emotionally compelling and intelligent interpretations of a diverse range of repertoire from the classical to the contemporary. In addition to her current post at New World School of the Arts, Chung has performed worldwide at Boston Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Baird Auditorium at the Smithsonian, Seoul Arts Center, Hong Kong City Hall, the National Grand Theater of Beijing and the Dubai Opera House. She has been a member of Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra since 2017; held residencies at Schloss Elmau and the Tsinandali Festival; toured Hong Kong, China and Dubai; and recorded a Beethoven Symphony cycle for Deutsche Grammophon in Switzerland. She has also worked with eminent conductors including Ivan Fischer, Simon Rattle, Zubin Mehta, Robert Spano, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Michael Tilson Thomas. Previously, Chung taught at Boston University College of Fine Arts, New England Conservatory Preparatory Program and Boston String Academy. This summer, Chung returns to Saarburg International Festival in Germany as a faculty member. Born and raised in Seoul, Chung has earned diplomas from Boston University, New England Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory and Seoul National University.

Soprano Leah Hawkins is a graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at The Metropolitan Opera, 2021 winner of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Women in Classical Music Career Advancement Award, and 2022 Richard Tucker Career Grant recipient.

Leah begins the 23/24 season as the Soprano Soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at The Metropolitan Opera conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Other season highlights include a role debut in Anthony Davis’ X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Louise/Betty) with The Metropolitan Opera and Seattle Opera. In the spring, she will make her role and house debut at Dutch National Opera in a new production of Il tabarro (Giorgetta) directed by Barrie Kosky and conducted by Lorenzo Viotti. On the concert stage she performs the Dvořák Requiem with American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder with Opera Roanoke.

Last season, she made her role and house debut at Pittsburgh Opera in Rusalka (Foreign Princess). Other season engagements included debuts with The Santa Fe Opera and Opera Memphis for Tosca (title role), Arizona Opera for Ariadne auf Naxos (title role), and her return to The Metropolitan Opera for La bohème (Musetta). On the concert stage, she made her debut at the innagural Sag Harbor Song Festival and presented a recital at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre.

Past engagements include her debut at the Opéra national de Paris in 7 Deaths of Maria Callas (Desdemona) before returning to the roster of The Metropolitan Opera for Fire Shut Up in My Bones and Porgy & Bess (Strawberry Woman). She made her Des Moines Metro Opera debut in Porgy & Bess (Serena).

In the 20/21 season, Leah debuted at the Bayerische Staatsoper in 7 Deaths of Maria Callas (Desdemona). Additional 20/21 engagements included debuts with Portland Opera for Journeys to Justice, Tulsa Opera for Greenwood Overcomes, Song of America: Celebration of Black Music with the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and a SummerStage recital in Central Park with The Metropolitan Opera.

While in the Lindemann Program at The Metropolitan Opera she was seen in Porgy & Bess (Strawberry Woman), Pique Dame (Masha), Suor Angelica (Alms Collector), and Aida (High Priestess). She made her Colorado Symphony debut in the Verdi Requiem and gave a recital at the Park Avenue Armory. Ms. Hawkins is an alumna of the Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera, where she appeared in the world premiere of Mazzoli’s Proving Up (Mrs. Johannes “Ma” Zegner), Don Carlo (Celestial Voice), Fairouz’s The Dictator’s Wife, Blanchard’s Champion (Cousin Blanche/Sadie Griffith), and Glass’ Appomattox (Mrs. Dorsey/Amelia Boynton).  

On the concert stage she has appeared with Yale Philharmonia in Mahler Symphony No. 2, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Porgy and Bess (Serena) with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and in A Space Odyssey with The Philadelphia Orchestra. She appeared with The Apollo Orchestra in Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in A Celebration of Black History where she performed Knoxville: Summer of 1915, and The National Symphony Orchestra in Songfest by Leonard Bernstein. Leah received her Master of Music in Voice from Yale University and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Morgan State University.