On Saturday, December 1 at 8PM in Mandel Hall, Samantha Fan (left), 2012 Concerto Competition Co-Winner, will perform Bruch’s masterpiece, the Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor. Read more

Where are you from, originally?  What drew you to the University of Chicago? 

I was born in Singapore but my family moved to Toronto, Canada when I was 16. My parents were both full-time professional violinists with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra so my sisters and I practically grew up backstage of the concert hall.

I chose to pursue my graduate work at the University of Chicago primarily because my research interests coincide with those of my adviser, Dr. Katherine Kinzler, who is currently part of the faculty at the Department of Psychology here at the University.

Even as a busy PhD student in the Psychology Department, you have managed to continue your musical studies as well.  How do you manage to balance your academic work with your musical endeavors?

I get this question a lot from people around me. I will have to credit my parents for my ability to perform this juggling act. They started us very early on both the piano and violin and instilled the kind of discipline that I have, to this day, applied religiously when it comes to time management. Personally, work and music have always intertwined for as early as I can remember. The upside of this (when it works) is that I get to enjoy being highly productive. The downside of it is I don’t really have time for anything else outside of work and music. Continue reading →