Today we’d like to introduce you to Sun-A Park.
Hi, Sun-A; please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi! I’m a Korean-American pianist currently living in Orlando, FL. I moved to Orlando in August 2022, when I started working at UCF as the assistant professor of piano. I grew up in New Jersey, lived in New York while I studied at the Juilliard School, and lived in Germany for about three years while studying abroad. After my studies in Germany, I returned to the States to pursue my post-graduate studies at Yale University (New Haven, CT). I received my Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD). Currently at UCF, I love working with my collegiate-level students and teaching local/statewide students privately. I also met my boyfriend in Orlando, so it’s been a very giving and lucky city for me!
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My obstacle growing up was my identity as a female Korean-American artist. I always identified myself as an American, but I knew that some parts of the country/world did not see me that way. Even now, working as an Asian woman in higher education has not proven to be easy; most of my colleagues are caucasian males, and the number of female faculty is far smaller. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics’ research data, only 5% of the full-time tenured faculty in the US are Asian women. Due to family obligations and pressure, I have female students who are not considering graduate school or a teaching career. I want to help these students to be the best scholars, artists, researchers, and performers they can be if they want to become one.
Thanks for sharing that. Can you tell us more about your work next?
I’m an actively performing concert pianist, and in April you can find me playing in Central Florida: April 1st, a solo recital at University of Florida (Gainesville), and all-Gershwin piano duo program at Judson’s Live (Orlando) on April 4th (https://www.drphillipscenter.org/events/tickets/2024/rhapsody-in-blue/), and chamber music concerts on the 10th and 14th as a part of UCF Celebrates the Arts at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (https://arts.cah.ucf.edu/celebrates/)
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Can you share something that might surprise us?
have never been to Disneyworld until I moved to Orlando. After my first visit I immediately got my annual pass and have been visiting monthly- another reason to love living in Orlando!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sun-apark.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sparklavier
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sun-a-park-170bab180
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAI8d7wMFjVI9i5cQgkjVQ
