The Stars of our Orchestra - Orchestra Nova San Diego

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Features
During the three years he’s led
our orchestra, Maestro Pak
has helped change the face of
classical music in San Diego. Audiences
have responded with increased ticket
sales, and the media has taken notice.
We sat down with him to discuss the
future of Orchestra Nova and what it
means for San Diego.
Inspire: We know how busy you
are, with orchestras on both coasts and
summers at the Interlochen Center for
the Arts, but we also know that you
have a soft spot for San Diego.
Connecting with Jung-Ho
A one-on-one conversation with Orchestra Nova’s visionary artistic director and conductor
Jung-Ho: I truly do have a
special love for San Diego, and I feel
so fortunate to be a part of all of the
excitement that surrounds our orchestra
today — our new name and our new
venue are just two examples of the
ground-breaking changes we’re making
this season.
I: Speaking of changes, what role do
you see technology playing in the future
of this orchestra?
J: I think it’s essential that we have
a presence on the Internet and to
increasingly integrate multimedia into our
programs. As part of the MTV generation,
I understand how my generation
is visually stimulated, and I
also realize that Gen X and
Y audiences are even more
interconnected. We want to
go where the next generation
“lives,” so we’re also starting new
elements for our web site like
our own blog, video and audio
content, and much more.
I: What does the new Irwin M.
Jacobs Qualcomm Hall mean
to Orchestra Nova?
J: For me, the addition of this hall
as one of our permanent venues is
as important as our new name. We
couldn’t ask for a more perfectly tailored
hall for us if we had built it ourselves!
It fits our needs for intimacy for our
audiences, and the acoustic resonance
of music in this hall is fantastic.
The comfort of the seats, convenience
of driving and parking, the great
artists’ accommodations backstage…
everything is extraordinary and makes
this among the greatest halls in the
country. To top it off, this concert hall
is equipped with the very latest in
technological capabilities for audiovisual
presentations, and we intend to
take full advantage of them.
I: How do our other venues fit into your
overall vision?
J: I’m glad you asked that because
both St. Paul’s Cathedral and Sherwood
Auditorium are very important to the
future of our organization. There are
those who love the very reverberant
sound at St. Paul’s. It’s a majestic
space that has its own grandeur and
ambience. Mixed with its proximity to
downtown restaurants, many find that
it’s their favorite spot.
Sherwood Auditorium is our most
traditional location. Our La Jolla friends see
us as “their” orchestra, and we’re tickled by
that. Its drier sound makes for an intimate
experience, and there are those who love
that best. It’s also in an excellent location,
right next to La Jolla restaurants.
So each venue definitely has its own
personality and experience.
I: How is Orchestra Nova successfully
maneuvering through the economic
downturn that seems to be affecting
every arts organization these days?
J: It’s a cliché, but I see challenging
times as opportunities to evolve into
a stronger company. An orchestra has
many “investors”: audiences, board
members, musicians, staff, corporate
partners and donors. Each has a stake
in our identity and product. So to take
important steps, like presenting a new
name or new concert hall, requires
strong reasoning. We’ve always been
about innovation and pushing the
envelope to bring our guests the best
possible experience, but the economic
environment has just accelerated
our plan to be at the forefront of this
revolution.
I: And, finally — I know you feel very
strongly about “connection” — can you
tell us what that word means to you?
J: Our events are about connecting
with people’s hearts and minds, so
physically making that connection,
for example, by greeting our guests
before we perform makes our musical
communication that much more
powerful. It also signifies that we’re not
playing “at” someone, but “with” them.
I: You obviously have a passion for
music education for all generations,
especially for children. How did that
passion begin for you?
J: I’ll always be indebted to public
school music education. I had my own
“Mr. Holland’s Opus” experience with a
great teacher in junior high, and without
that I wouldn’t be here today. I’ve been
diligently trying to pay back that gift
by working with as many children and
music teachers across the country
as I can. Of course, I feel a particular
obligation to my own “home” of San
Diego County.
Beverly Lambert, director of marketing, Orchestra Nova; former music educator,
corporate marketing executive
Pak’s Favorites:
Concert hall: The Great Hall in
St. Petersburg (Russia)
Airport food: SFO (San Francisco)
— great variety, from Japanese
tempura udon and sushi to
killer nachos and authentic fruit
juices at Andale; DFW (Dallas)
— Cousin’s BBQ; BOS (Boston) —
Legal Seafood (need I say more!)
Admired figures: Walter
Cronkite, Stanley Kubrick, Jackie
Robinson, Alice Waters, my
junior high band director
Musicals: West Side Story and
Oklahoma!
Vacation spot: Coming home
is a vacation, when traveling
the world
Classical recordings: Bruno
Walter’s recordings of the
Mahler Symphonies; Carlos
Kleiber’s recording of Schubert’s
Unfinished Symphony No. 8; and
Anner Bylsma’s performances of
the Bach Suites for Cello
PC or Mac: Mac
Pak’s guilty habits: Skipping
meals and lack of sleep
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