Helen Sung

As the daughter of Chinese immigrants raised in Houston, Texas, Helen Sung embodies two diverse cultures and has discovered a musical voice and identity that are true to both – and more importantly, true to herself. Initially a student of the Western Classical tradition (she holds a Masters in classical piano performance from the University of Texas), Helen says her first connection to jazz “felt like an emancipation”:  she was accepted into the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance in its 1995 inaugural year, where she studied with Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, and Sir Roland Hanna, after which her student ensemble toured with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Upon graduation from the program, Helen began to garner awards while performing and recording with some of the top musicians in the field, including Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Steve Turre, Regina Carter, T.S. Monk, and the Mingus Dynasty Band. She has toured as a Jazz Ambassador with the US State Department. Helen has released six albums as a leader and has appeared on over sixty recordings as a sidewoman. Her latest project, “Sung with Words,” is a composition and performance effort supported by Chamber Music America and a collaboration with former US Poet Laureate Dana Gioia. Helen performed this work at the VJC in March 2019 with an all-star ensemble.