Musicians Julie, Jennie and Ellen Jung

Trio of sisters harmonizing at School of Music

Discord was common in the Toronto home where Jennie, Ellen and Julie Jung grew up, but theirs was mostly of a musical kind. It resulted whenever the three sisters clamored for enough quiet in the house to practice their respective instruments -- the piano for Jennie, the violin for Ellen and the cello for Julie -- with all three sometimes trying to drown out the others' musical "noise." Today, the Jungs share a sisterly camaraderie at the School of Music, where they are the first three siblings in recent memory -- and possibly ever -- to study simultaneously. There, in addition to perfecting their own playing, they are united in their focus on furthering their development as the Jung Trio. Jennie and Ellen, who came to Yale last year to pursue master's degrees in musical performance, were joined at the School of Music this fall by their younger sister, Julie, a candidate for an Artist Diploma. All three have been studying their instruments since they were about five years old. "We did do a lot of fighting when we were all trying to practice," says Julie of their growing-up years. "Yes, and there was always a lot of noise at our house," concurs Ellen. "But we also had a lot of fun," interjects Jennie, the eldest of the sisters. In fact, all three sisters say their strongest memories are of the harmonious times, such as when they teamed up to play hymns at church or performed Christmas carols and other music while outfitted in matching dresses made by their mother. All the sisters trace their own musical successes back to their mother, an artist who encouraged her three daughters and a son to take up an instrument. While growing up in Korea after the war, she always wanted to learn an instrument but never had the opportunity. Later, while living in Canada, she decided to learn piano, and signed up Jennie and Ellen, too. She later switched Ellen to violin. When it became Julie's turn to start music lessons, her mother agreed that cello was the sensible choice. The girls took their lessons seriously. When Jennie was only 11, she performed as a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Ellen was a soloist with the North York Symphony Orchestra and the Korean-Canadian Symphony Orchestra while in her early teens, and Julie was the principal cellist for the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra at age 12. By the time they were in high school, the sisters had studied with renowned musicians and attended prestigious music institutes, summer festivals, workshops and master classes. They also studied at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music, where both Ellen and Julie performed in a chamber orchestra. While Ellen was determined to pursue a musical career from a young age, both Jennie and Julie once considered other fields. In high school, Jennie wanted to become a scientist, and considered the piano only a hobby. In her younger years, Julie aspired to be an archaeologist. By college, however, music was all the sisters' first choice of study. Following in Jennie's footsteps, Ellen and Julie attended the University of Toronto. During their undergraduate years, each of the musicians won top prizes and scholarships in various noteworthy competitions. At the University of Toronto, they also decided to combine their talents as the Jung Trio, which was featured on Canadian radio and television stations and at various venues in Ontario. Jennie went on to earn her first master's degree in performance from the University of Toronto in 1998. Julie earned her master's degree in music performance last May from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. The sisters choose Yale's School of Music on the recommendation of some of its faculty members and former students. Among those who encouraged their study are Yale cellist and teacher Aldo Parisot; and his former student Shauna Rolston '91, '93 MUS, who teaches cello at the University of Toronto. The Jungs had met and studied with Parisot and Rolston at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, where they were also the resident trio in 1998. Julie now studies with Parisot at Yale. Jennie's principal teacher at the School of Music is pianist Claude Frank, and Ellen is studying with violinist Syoko Aki. The Jung Trio, which is coached by visiting professor of piano Peter Frankl, made its Yale debut at the School of Music's Convocation in September. "We are now working on getting back the groove we had while playing together in Canada," says Julie. "It used to be like we had the same mind when we performed, and we are working here on re-establishing that." While musicians in a permanent ensemble often make a point of living very separate lives apart from their musical collaboration, the Jungs have broken with that tradition by sharing an apartment in New Haven. "Under the circumstances, it's hard to keep our lives separate," notes Jennie. "But most of the time we do get along and have a good time together." Nevertheless, the sisters have very different temperaments, they admit. "As the eldest, I'm the motherly one: protective, organized and responsible," states Jennie, as her sisters nod their heads in agreement. "Ellen's the quiet one, but with a bit of a rebel side," comments Julie, causing her sister to break into a mischievous grin. "And, I guess, because I'm the youngest, I've been accused of being, well, aggressive," continues Julie, prompting Ellen to mutter "So true." The sisters are also quick to point to their commonalties, particularly their love for music by Romantic composers, such as Chopin, Brahms, Schuman and Schubert. They also appreciate their opportunities at the School of Music, where they enjoy performing chamber music with other students and seeing their own teachers take the stage in campus concerts. The Jung Trio is currently gearing up for some major performances of its own: the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana, and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Pasadena, California. Both take place at the end of the year. "So we're still making a lot of noise," quips Ellen. "Our mother misses that noise." -- By Susan Gonzalez T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S $5 million will fund hypoglycemia study Peabody to launch program on biodiversity and human health Albee applauds 'dangerous' dramas Trio of sisters harmonizing at School of Music Yale College Dean's Office announces new staff ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS Grigoriy Margulis is named the Erastus L. DeForest Professor of Mathematics Steven A. Orszag, the new Percey F. Smith Professor of Mathematics . . . 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