How Elita Kang turned a love of reading into a real-life adventure

Music was merely supposed to be a means to an end for Kang. It ended up becoming more than just a profession; she discovered her passion. Since her childhood, her passions have taken her on hiking and culinary adventures around the world, most significantly to Peru.

When did music come into your life?

I started learning the violin via the Suzuki method when I was 4, but my parents did not intend for me to become a professional musician. Like many Asian immigrant parents, their dream was for me to become a surgeon who played concerti on the weekends. Violin was supposed to be something to help me get into Harvard Medical School. 

I started at Juilliard Prep when I was 11, and I think that's where I discovered that I really loved music, in the purest sense, devoid of ego. Making music with others gave me a community of friends who I am close with to this day. 

My life took a turn when I was 16 and had to decide what I was going to do after high school. I had a wonderful teacher at the time, Louise Behrend — who had been my teacher since I was 8 — and she asked, “Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?” I knew what my parents wanted for me, so I saod, “I'll probably either be a doctor or go into business.” She said, “Okay, why?” And I really didn't know the answer to that one. I probably said something like, “So I can make a lot of money and make my parents happy.”

She didn't laugh at me. She listened and said, “I'd like you to consider pursuing music at a conservatory level just for a few years. If you have a brain now, you'll have a brain in four years. Playing the violin is an art, but it’s also very physical. You might regret pausing your musical training at this stage of your development.”

Until this conversation, I'd never heard of this little conservatory in Philadelphia, the Curtis Institute. I didn't know much about Philadelphia other than the Liberty Bell. Long story short, that's where I ended up going. I was surrounded by some of the biggest talents of our generation. That was very, very humbling. One of the first recitals I heard at school was from the brilliant almost 13-year-old Hilary Hahn.

I was rather at a loss for what I wanted to do with my life after hearing people like her. I thought, “Gosh, maybe I should have attended Yale and gone to medical school after all.” But I was invited to sub with the Philly Orchestra my third year in school, and that was my first foray into professional orchestra playing. Fast forward 18 months and I was lucky enough to win the job here during my last year at Curtis. 

If you’re not listening to classical music, what are you listening to?

Ella Fitzgerald. She was the paragon of beautiful music making. This was an artist who, as far as I know, didn't have any formal music schooling, but she knew how to turn a phrase, how to take time to breathe, where the highs and lows are in any song. I have yet to hear another singer who is capable of making me feel such joy and wonder.

I’ve also become a real fan of audiobooks. I’ve been awed by good storytelling since I could read. Combine that with elegant narration, and I can be transported for hours. One of my favorite living authors is R.F. Kuang, a brilliant writer and master of compelling character development and fascinating world building. I loved her book "Babel" so much that I went right back for a second listen as soon as I finished the first. 

When did traveling become a passion?

Oh, it’s been a passion forever since I was a small child, when I discovered that reading was the cheapest and easiest way to travel. In the beginning, when I first started traveling, I visited London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, standard tourist fare. 

My approach to traveling changed in September of 2014 when I wanted to go to Machu Picchu. My travel buddy said, “Well, we could just go to Peru and do our usual type of trip: culture and dining. Or we could have an adventure and hike in the Andes.” I’d never been a hiker before, so I was dubious but cautiously willing. That summer at Tanglewood, in preparation for our trip, I was hiking all those hills in the Berkshires that I'd never bothered to climb before, and I developed an actual love for it. I REALLY love hiking now. Now it's rare a that trip doesn’t involve some sort of big hike. 

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been to?

I'm always going to have a soft spot for Peru, because that's where I had this epiphany that I could experience the world in this other way. We hiked through so many different ecosystems within 10 days. We started in Cuzco City, which is at about 12,000 feet; the highest point of our trek was reaching the Salkantay Pass, at just over 15,000 feet. My whole body felt leaden once we climbed past 14,000 feet. I would check in with myself every ten steps, assess that I was still alive, and then continue trudging along. Reaching the peak was easily one of my more amazing life experiences. The air was crisp and chilly and the sky a brilliant blue. Our collective feeling of achievement and excitement was heightened by the stunning landscape (and probably oxygen deprivation).

When we descended to about seven thousand feet a few days later, our guide stopped us and said, “We're all going to reapply our bug spray now. Once we enter the cloud forest, you're just going to keep moving. The bug spray will protect you, but if you stop, the bugs are going to come.” And boy, was that a good motivator.

I couldn't bring myself to eat guinea pig in Peru. It’s the main source of protein throughout the Andes because they can’t farm cattle easily. I watched my more intrepid friends partake, but I couldn't do it.

I got to swim with dolphins in the wild. I was just north of the South Island in New Zealand. It was absolutely stunning. Apparently, dolphins really love it when they hear humming. Our guides told us that once we got in the water, to just start humming, and that would pique the dolphins’ curiosity. We’d been out for an hour or two when we came upon a pod of dolphins. The guides said, “Number one rule: Do not try to touch the dolphins. These are wild animals, nothing like those poor creatures in places like Sea World that are dosed with large amount of antibiotics. If we see any one of you trying to touch the dolphins, we will pull you out of the water immediately.”

I asked, “What happens if they touch us?” They said “That’s not going to be an issue. They will not touch you.” And they didn't! They would swim awfully close, maybe a forearm's length away from me. One of them swam close enough that we made eye contact, and I panicked. When I raised my head above water to calm myself, I was stunned to see how many dolphins were with us. There was at least a dozen, maybe as many as 15, and I could see their sleek and shiny grey backs as they wove in and around our group of awkward two-legged snorkelers. 

It was December, so none of us could think of anything other than Christmas tunes to hum: we regaled the dolphins with a wet cacophony of “Jingle Bells.” When we got back in the boat, the guide said, “You guys were really lucky, you were in the water for over half an hour. Sometimes they get bored, and they leave, but I guess they must have really liked your Christmas cheer!”

So, I love to travel. I love to see how other people live. One of my favorite things to do when I'm traveling is to go to a local grocery store and see what people there are buying.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen in a grocery store?

When you go to Japan or Korea, there are amazing food courts in the basement of every big department store. You'll see unbelievably beautiful fruit (think agricultural fair prize-winning museum quality!) and they’re selling, like, an Asian pear for $50 bucks.

I've also been to Spain a lot. I have fantasies about retiring there because I love the food, the people, and the art. They’re really big on ham. There’s a chain of shops called Museo del Jamón — museum of ham. You go in and there's just leg after leg after leg after leg, like the Rockettes … but ham. 

Lightning round! Where’s your favorite place to grab food around Symphony Hall?

Flour Bakery. And I have to plug my favorite sandwich place in Brookline, Cutty’s. Those guys are artists.

What is your coffee or tea order?

Most of the time it's just green tea. I also love a good iced decaf Americano.

Last and most important question: What is your favorite pizza topping?

I love pepperoni. I’ve been known to make a trip to Costco specifically for a slice of their pizza. (And gas, of course!)

Maya Shwayder is the BSO’s Senior Contributing Editor and Copywriter.