An Inspired Chat with Addison Teng of Chicago, Illinois

We recently had the chance to connect with Addison Teng and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Addison, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
On days that I am at home, I usually get up by 6:30 or 7 so I can get a head start on emails – especially the ones that came in overnight from Asia or Europe. I’ve never been a big breakfast person (unless I am in Taiwan) so I usually do emails, calls, and planning until an early, hearty lunch. In the afternoon, I carve out time to practice before teaching several hours of lessons. If I don’t teach too late into the evening, which is rare these days, I will try to meet up with friends or donors for dinner – I’m a total foodie!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a violinist and pedagogue, and the founder and president of the Fulton Music Society, a nonprofit I started in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. We operate 4 different programs. Our flagship is the Fulton Summer Music Academy, which is a 4-week intensive program for pre-college through pre-professional string and piano players. Students come from across the United States and around the world, including from Mexico, Taiwan, Honduras, Vietnam, and Malaysia. We provide a holistic musical education. Our curriculum is designed to not only develop their skills playing their instrument but also how they think about their instrument in relation to life. We want to teach them to be good citizens, to be thinkers and doers. We take our top FSMA students on tour every year through the Fulton In Residence program. Seeing the world through travelling helps students grow by understanding that we are all more similar than we are different. The Fulton Conservatory of Music runs year-round, and it builds on the core principals of FSMA adapted for the school year. Summers are all about discovery; fall through spring is all about consistency. As school gets busy, students need to learn to be resilient and organized. Lastly, the Fulton Chamber Players is our professional ensemble. We tour around the country and the world giving concerts, masterclasses, and lectures. Our goal is to spread the word of what we do at Fulton as well as to model for our students how to be a well-rounded musician and citizen. We also want to show our students that world-class music doesn’t have to be confined to expected spaces and audiences. Music should be shared with all, from national concert halls to brewery lawns to community centers, and from top conservatories to public schools.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I can’t pick just one! I would have to say my 3 most formative violin teachers: Sally Thomas, Amy Barlowe, and Joey Corpus. Ms. Barlowe and Ms. Thomas pushed me into the deep end of teaching, forcing me to trust my instincts and my knowledge as I worked to guide students sometimes older than me from point A to point B. Joey taught me to be extraordinarily efficient with both my practicing and my state of mind, tuning out the noise and focusing on what will actually help me achieve my goals.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Short answer: ALL the time! There will always be listeners who don’t like a concert, students who don’t follow directions, concert presenters who don’t give you a chance, and colleagues who don’t follow through. We are always tempted by the comfortable life, especially with social media selling ease and happiness for as long as it can keep you scrolling. But for me, happiness comes from knowing that I have made a small difference in the world, and that keeps me working smart.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would never compromise my authenticity – what you see is what you get with me. I will always remember the dean of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, now president of San Francisco Conservatory of Music, saying once while I was a student that if you have an opinion, there will always be someone who disagrees.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
To me, integrity means believing in what you do and always giving it your best. Integrity is something that you do for yourself, not something that others give to you. For me, integrity is closely tied with resilience. It can be difficult to keep true to yourself when it seems like your efforts aren’t bearing fruit, but as Ms. Thomas always said, you must keep your blinders on and do good work.

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