Helena Jung came from a musical family. Her mother taught piano, and that was the first instrument Helena learned as a young girl growing up in Korea. At the age of ten, she heard a young cellist perform at a student recital, a discovery which changed her musical journey forever. She switched to cello soon afterwards.
The cello: an emotional connection to music
“The cello can blend with all music and fits perfectly into any repertoire,” says Jung. “It produces the closest sound to the human voice, and it naturally resonates with the listener as captivating and engaging emotion.”
Today, Jung is an important part of the Comox Valley’s classical music scene as a cello and violin teacher, professional musician, conductor, and Music Director of the non-professional Strathcona Symphony Orchestra (SSO).
Starting a new life on Vancouver Island
While Jung was pursuing her musical education in Seoul, it’s unlikely she envisioned a future life on Vancouver Island, but in 2004, she emigrated with her husband and two young sons from Seoul to Campbell River. There is a distinct contrast between Korea’s capital city of 10 million—one of the world’s top manufacturing centres, with ancient shrines and medieval castles—and a quiet and serene Vancouver Island gateway to outdoor adventure. Campbell River had a population of just over 30,000 when the Jungs arrived.
But the couple relished the challenge of starting a new life, and it didn’t take them long to get involved in Campbell River’s performing arts scene. Helena soon met and began playing with local musicians, including Blaine Waldbauer, one of the SSO’s founders. (Waldbauer has played with the orchestra over the years as both first and second violinist, but for the 2024/25 season he is the concert master.)
Transitioning to orchestral involvement with the SSO
Jung’s two sons started playing with the SSO (cello and trumpet) and she became a sectional coach and musician with the orchestra. Because one of her sons was already playing the cello, Helena decided to learn the timpani.
Jung and her family moved to Courtenay in 2006, where her musical commitments expanded beyond her role as a teacher of cello, violin, and viola. Over the years, she became a conductor, a professional soloist, and an ensemble performer with the Vancouver Island Symphony. She also worked with youth string players at the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC).
Becoming Music Director of the SSO
She commenced her role as Music Director for the SSO in August 2018. (The SSO uses the term music director instead of conductor.)
In 2022, Jung noticed a need for an outlet for adult beginner string players (violin, viola, cello, bass) to practice and improve their skills. She formed a group called Hello Strings! and invited string musicians of all ages to learn to play in a group and perform for the public.
A journey of evolving musical tastes
Most music lovers’ tastes evolve over time; and Jung was no exception. As she matured, she moved away from Brahms’ romantic works toward Beethoven, whose powerful and passionate pieces challenged her as a young cellist. These days, her favourite composer is J.S. Bach. With his mastery of harmonic complexity and unparalleled skill, his work is expressive and appealing to both the musician and listener. Jung says the more she plays Bach, the more is revealed to her as a musician: “Even though I played Bach as a child, I am always finding nuances in his music, and I can explore his compositions with a more mature eye.”
Future projects and artistic ambitions
Although Jung’s current projects keep her busy, some day she would love to perform live music in a natural setting, such as a forest, to witness the cerebral and emotional effect on her listeners. She would also like to collaborate with visual artists, such as sculptors or painters, to explore the effect of her playing cello music during their creation process.
Imagine a stunning work of art in a gallery with the caption: “Sculpture inspired by cellist Helena Jung and Bach’s six Cello Suites.”
What an exciting new twist on the power of music—and yet another interesting phase in Jung’s musical evolution.