Given David Park's environment while he was growing up, it's not surprising that he became a musician. "Both my parents are cellists," Park said. "I had wonderful parents who gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do."
At the same time, however, Park's mother, who was a member of the Seoul Philharmonic for more than 20 years and a professor of cello, wasn't eager to see her son take up the profession. "She didn't push me to go into music. She wanted one of her sons to be a lawyer and the other a doctor." And since his older brother chose law, it was Park's fate to become the doctor.
However, his father steered him toward music. "My father wanted me to be a musician. He said, 'How many people do what they really love doing?' But he also said that you have to choose music for the right reason. You decide to become a musician for the love of music and not for the fame or the money." And that's been Park's guiding principle ever since.
Park is the Utah Symphony's assistant concertmaster. Next week, concertgoers will get the rare opportunity of seeing him as a soloist when he plays Brahms' Double Concerto, with cellist Elliott Cheney and the University of Utah Philharmonia, under the baton of Robert Bowden.
Park teaches a number of private students at the university, and he's looking forward to the event. "I'm excited about this concert and about working with the students. It's important for the faculty to do concerts with them, because it's a valuable learning process."
He and Cheney have known each other for several years. They were in the Melodien String Quartet, a group that Park founded, together with symphony members Veronica Kulig, violin, and Julie Edwards, viola. "Elliott and I have been playing the (Double Concerto) on and off for more than a year," Park said. And when the opportunity arose to play it in public, they jumped at the chance. "I played Brahms' Violin Concerto in Korea last year, so I've been really involved in his music lately."
Park joined the Utah Symphony in 1995, a year after graduating from Juilliard. Before coming to Utah, he was a substitute player for the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was also the concertmaster of a couple of local orchestras in New York City. Before going to Juilliard, where he was a graduate student, Park studied at Indiana University. His teacher there was the legendary Josef Gingold.
When the Utah Symphony announced an opening for assistant concertmaster, Park auditioned and won the position. He said that it was a dream for him to be a part of the orchestra. "There were several reasons why I wanted to come here. One was because of Joseph Silverstein (who was director of the Utah Symphony at the time)."
Park's goal is to be a well-rounded artist, one who is able to play in an orchestra while also performing the solo repertoire, as well as chamber music. "I strive for balance." He admits, however, that it can stretch an artist pretty thin sometimes. "In the end, what it comes down to is making music of the highest quality, whether playing as part of an orchestra or playing a recital."
Also on the Philharmonia's program next week will be Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 and U. faculty member John Castas' "Providence."
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