At the age of 8, violinist Sarah Chang was featured as soloist with the New York Philharmonic. Soon afterwards, she played with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Today, she has a full career playing with orchestras all over the world. WRTI’s Susan Lewis profiles this busy artist, who still calls the Philadelphia area home.
Radio Script:
SL: Sarah Chang loves to perform, and performs only works she loves, which are many, including Dvorak’s Violin Concerto
SC: I always feel that when you put yourself out there on stage and you’re sharing a part of yourself – you have to love the composer, and believe in that composer and the work so much that it becomes a part of you. If that connection, that instant love, isn’t there, the audience definitely feels that.
SL: The enthusiasm and fearlessness she puts into her music also shows up in activities off the stage. Among things she does to relax? Well, there’s paragliding!
SC: There’s so much going on all the time, that sometimes it's just a pleasure to go paragliding. Depending on the wind, you can be up there for 45 minutes, you’re just floating and it's so beautiful and you feel so peaceful.
SL: Chang also relishes working at home, so to speak – that is, playing with The Philadelphia Orchestra – which, she told me is like family.
SC: I grew up with them through my adolescent years, my teen years. The principal violist taught me to drive. One of my old babysitters was in the orchestra. This is family, this is home. They’re close to my heart and they're incredible.
SL: Among other honors, Sarah Chang has received the Harvard University Leadership Award and the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and has served as an official Artistic Ambassador of the U.S. Government.
