This month, we introduce you to Teaching Artist Hanul Park, who teaches Project 440’s Doing Good and Instruments for Success programs. Hanul is a bassoonist and freelance musician who plays throughout the Philadelphia region. She performs with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Ocean City POPS, and various ensembles in New York and the Tri-state area. Hanul teaches bassoon and chamber music at Swarthmore College, works with the Delaware County Youth Orchestra, and has a small private bassoon studio.
“Music was always a Big Part of my Life.”
Hanul grew up in a musical family. Her dad is a church musician with a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting and says of her childhood, “Music was always a big part of my life!” Her first instrument was the violin, which she played through high school. She also grew up playing the piano and still plays occasionally for church.
Hanul’s parents taught at a Korean language school on Saturdays when she was in seventh grade. Her dad invited some of his colleagues to introduce various instruments to the students each week. When it was the bassoon class, her mom was curious about the instrument, so she got to observe that session with her students. She fell in love with the bassoon and thought it would be nice if one of her daughters could play the instrument, so Hanul started playing it a year later! She says, “Bassoon is my favorite instrument, but I always wanted to play the cello and the French horn.”
From Korea to Philadelphia
Hanul was born in the United States and moved to Korea when she was a few months old, where she spent her early childhood. She and her family moved back to the U.S. when she was nine, lived in Boston, and then moved to Oklahoma when she was a sophomore in high school. Hanul attended the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for her undergraduate studies, then Yale School of Music for her master’s, and came to Philadelphia to attend the Curtis Institute of Music for her post-baccalaureate diplomas.
Hanul Park performing in the Curtis Symphony Orchestra
“I Constantly Learn from our Students”
Hanul leading Doing Good
Hanul says, “My favorite part of teaching Doing Good is the opportunity to constantly learn from our students and be a part of their lives. Our students care deeply about our communities, and I’m inspired by their passion and thoughtfulness in our discussions.”
Hanul also teaches Instruments for Success, Project 440’s college readiness and career pathways program. She says, “Growing up in an immigrant family, I was the first person to go to college in the U.S. from high school. Although the college application process was difficult to navigate at the time, I love that I now take part in helping our students through their journey. Another favorite aspect is teaching alongside our college fairy, Cigus Vanni! I’m always amazed by our guest speakers and their multi-faceted careers.”
On the Stage and Off
Hanul says she loves performing Mozart’s late Piano Concertos. She’s performed most of the Beethoven Symphonies but hasn’t had a chance to play his 3rd Symphony and would love to perform it someday!
She loves yoga, going to the gym, trying new recipes, and exploring coffee. She also enjoys spending time outside in nature and camping with her husband and their dog, Coda.
Hanul advises her students to “Do your best, take pride in all aspects of your life – you never know who you’ll meet and what will come out of it. And be kind to yourself!”
