What sparked your desire to pursue conducting?
"I was truly privileged to have had choir director, Ms. Agnes Hwong, during my high school days in Hong Kong. She inspired me to fall in love with choral music. During her final days battling with terminal cancer, I was asked to lead the school choirs in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang as a student leader, and that experience solidified my desire to pursue ensemble leadership, especially in ways that can make an impact on other peoples’ lives."
Favorite classical music era?
"Without any doubt, Bach’s choral-orchestral masterpieces: cantatas, passions, and the B minor Mass."
What's exciting about conducting our COMING HOME concert series?
"This program exemplifies the American sound in song (Forrest) and dance (Copland’s ballet). As an Asian expatriate living in the United States, I have always admired this nation’s capacity to allow people from all backgrounds to flourish. Copland’s Appalachian Spring is arguably the piece that defined the American sound, with direct quotations from the Shaker hymn Simple Gifts. (Having branched off from the Quakers in England, the Shakers represent a people who call this blessed land home, where freedom reigns.) Forrest’s Jubilate Deo, on the other hand, is a celebration of cultures and sounds from different backgrounds, including a movement sung in Chinese, my native language. I feel elated to have the August privilege of directing this performance, particularly because it allows me to represent a generation of expatriate musicians who received apprenticeships and have active careers in the U.S. As a side note, Appalachian Spring started my journey as an orchestra conductor. In fact, I auditioned for my doctoral studies in conducting with this piece! It holds a special place in my heart."
More about Maestro Pierre Tang:
Dr. Pierre Long-Tao Tang (鄧朗淘), conductor-pianist from Hong Kong based in Southern California, maintains an active international career. He guest conducts worldwide, including at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, to critical acclaim. He apprenticed under Donald Schleicher and Andrew Megill, and studied with conductors such as Uroš Lajovic, Robert Spano, and Osmo Vänskä. Tang has served as cover conductor for Le Concert d'Astrée under Emmanuelle Haïm. He teaches at the University of California, San Diego, and the University of San Diego, and is Music Director at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church. His research on orchestra directorship has been presented at international conferences, with a forthcoming book chapter from SUNY Press. As pianist, Tang works with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony Chorus, and UCLA. He also performs chamber music with Chamber Music Palisades and has sung with the LA Master Chorale and Montreal Symphony under leading conductors.
