 Janet Sung teaching in her studio. Her student is Michael Herring of Clay, N.Y. |
Janet Sung, whose achievements at the School of Music and commitment to students and her art have resounded in high notes at SUNY Fredonia, has received its William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award.
Ms. Sung, assistant professor of violin studies, holds impressive credentials, including a master’s degree in music in violin performance from The Juilliard School and a dual degree, awarded with honors, in music and anthropology from Harvard University. Before arriving at SUNY Fredonia in 2004, she was a Clifton Visiting Artist at Harvard’s “Learning from Performers” program, following in the musical steps of Isaac Stern, James Galway and Quincy Jones.
“It was a tremendous honor to be given the Hagan award and that my colleagues would think me deserving of such recognition, especially considering the list of accomplishments of recipients from past years,” Ms. Sung said. “It is particularly significant knowing that it is also a university-wide award. I am deeply flattered and thrilled!”
School of Music Director Karl Boelter characterized Ms. Sung as “an excellent selection for the award. She is committed to her art, and she is equally committed to her students and the School of Music. It is a delight to have her on the faculty because of her consistent kindness, wisdom and professionalism. On top of all this, she is absolutely electrifying when she performs.”
Professor James Piorkowski, who introduced Ms. Sung at the award presentation, noted that students respect her knowledge and demanding standards and are willing to work for her because they know it will benefit them in their careers.
A native of New York City, Ms. Sung began playing the violin at the age of 7 and, just two years later, made her orchestral debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She went on to study with Josef Gingold, a renowned violin teacher, for 10 years and was awarded a full scholarship to study with esteemed Juilliard teacher Dorothy DeLay.
Internationally known, Ms. Sung has been a guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony, has appeared with orchestras in South Korea and Russia, and been heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today” series. Recitals have been presented in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and New York City, in addition to Denmark, Switzerland and New Zealand.
A winner of Aspen Music Festival’s Nakamichi Violin Competition, Ms. Sung has received prizes and grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, National Federation of Music Clubs and Cho Chang Tsung Foundation. She conducts master classes throughout the United States and has served on the faculties of several music festivals.
The William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award, named in honor of Dr. William T. Hagan, an eminent scholar in American Indian history, recognizes an individual who has made recent outstanding achievements in research or creativity. Dr. Hagen, a Distinguished Professor emeritus at SUNY Fredonia, drew admiration for distinguished scholarship as well as for personifying Fredonia’s faculty scholarly activities for over 20 years. He wrote more than six books published between 1958 and 1985.
The William T. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award was established through an endowment with the Fredonia College Foundation and has been awarded by the university every year since 1987.
