In an alternate universe where she isn’t singing, soprano Chea Kang imagines herself as the owner of a beach-town cat café. (Maybe that’s a dream for retirement!)
Born and raised in Korea for her first 16 years, Chea has a deep appreciation for the works of Korean film director Park Chan-wook — if you haven’t seen The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave, or Oldboy, she highly recommends them. She’s also drawn to the surreal, a theme that resonates in the novels of Haruki Murakami, particularly 1Q84 and Sputnik Sweetheart.
A passionate artist with a strong stance against discrimination — toward anyone, even the headless —Chea’s dream role is Salome. Ideally, she’d perform Strauss’ one-act opera in a museum filled with headless statues, a fittingly dramatic setting for the princess who receives a severed head in exchange for her infamous dance.
Chea’s resilience shone through during her undergraduate years, including one particularly memorable audition. Just before stepping in to sing, she encountered an overly aggressive automatic toilet that flushed mid-use, splashing water everywhere. Slightly drenched but undeterred, she powered through the audition. (Luckily, the school plumber arrived in time for callbacks!)
Her full first name, Chea Young, translates to "colorful blossom" in Korean — a perfect reflection of the way her voice blooms in song. We can’t wait to hear her bring that brilliance to life in the Music Room.
To read more serious facts about Chea and her singing career thus far, please read her professional bio here.