Inspired by 40 years of mentorship, Angela Yeung (BMus '85) supports Laurier Music students

More than 40 years after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University, Angela Yeung (BMus ’85) still turns to one of her former professors for advice.

“No professor at Laurier had an impact on me more than Dr. Anne Hall,” says Yeung, crediting Hall, and Laurier, for a long and successful career in performance and teaching.

What began as a student-professor relationship grew into a lifelong mentorship that helped shape Yeung's distinguished international career in music performance, conducting, teaching and scholarship. Today, it also inspires her ongoing support of Laurier Music students.

Finding a Home at Laurier

In 1981, Yeung came to Canada from Hong Kong as an international student. While she was auditioning for other music programs in the area, a high school friend studying at the University of Waterloo encouraged her to audition at Laurier, where she was immediately accepted.

Yeung really loved her Laurier experience. She made friends with fellow cello students and experienced many firsts – from cross country skiing to canoeing, to working on a farm in the summer and even her first snowfall.

As a student, Yeung practiced cello for six hours a day and worked hard in her classes. But it was Hall’s music theory classes that had a particular impact on her, inspiring her to pivot her career direction to apply for a master’s degree in music theory at McGill. She was accepted with a full scholarship.

Hall was thrilled for Yeung and took every opportunity to help her with the next stage of her education.

Yeung was, and is, deeply grateful for and inspired by Hall.

“She was the kind of professor that ingrains in you, if you want to be a professor, you want to be like her, you want to give back,” says Yeung.

A mentorship that lasted decades

While in her senior year at Laurier, Yeung was one of two grading assistants for Hall, a position that required Hall to obtain a worker VISA for Yeung from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. After Yeung graduated, Hall invited her to housesit during a few of her summer and winter breaks. In the following years, as Yeung pursued further education and moved into a successful performance and teaching career, they stayed in touch.

“She became a mentor to me,” says Yeung.

After receiving her Concert Diploma in Baroque Cello Performance (Distinction) (1989) and her Master of Arts in Music Theory (1990) from McGill University, Yeung earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory (1994) from Columbia University in New York.

Yeung was the artistic director, Early Music at Saint Peter’s Church concert series in New York from 1993 to 2003; artistic co-director, Orvieto Musica International Summer Chamber Music Workshop in Orvieto, Italy from 1994 to 2005 and principal guest conductor, The Chorale Singers in Jakarta, Indonesia from 2009 to 2014. She has guest-conducted a number of orchestras and given numerous masterclasses internationally. Since 1994, Yeung has been a full-time music faculty member at the University of San Diego, currently as an associate professor, and since 2010, has been the artistic director of Greater San Diego Music Coterie.

“Laurier opened doors for me in so many directions,” says Yeung. “I loved playing cello and practiced like crazy, but without Laurier I would not have had the opportunity to experience other subjects like music theory, which opened the door to me to go to graduate school and apply for academic positions.”

“Now I am doing what I learned from my professors. Their dedication and generosity inspired me to become the professor I am today.”

Paying it forward

Yeung has been a donor to Laurier’s Music program since she started teaching at the University of San Diego. When Hall retired, alumni and faculty who had been inspired by her teaching set up the Anne C. Hall Bursary Fund, and Yeung began supporting that fund as soon as she became aware of it. She continues to support it to this day.

“Giving back is a gesture of gratitude,” says Yeung. “Laurier was my first home away from home and I am grateful for the support I received from fellow students and faculty during my years at Laurier, and for Dr. Hall's mentorship throughout my career.”

“All of us receive guidance and support to grow into our career. We must do the same for the next generation.”