Princeton Festival Co-Founder, Former University Choral Director, Dies

PRINCETON, NJ — Richard Tang Yuk, one of the founders of the Princeton Festival and its artistic and executive director for 16 years, died Friday, Oct. 23, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra announced.

Tang Yuk, who was born in 1961, led the festival from its start in 2004 until 2020.

“I can’t imagine that the Princeton Festival would have succeeded without him,” PSO Executive Director Marc Uys said. “His passion and determination could overcome any obstacle. On top of everything, he found just enough energy at the end of each season to conduct some of the more memorable opera productions in New Jersey history.”

The PSO said that under his leadership, the festival grew from two events and four performances in 2004 to eight events, 22 performances and several community events in 2019. He pushed for a lineup that included opera, musical theater, Baroque music, jazz, world music and dance. That mix helped shape the festival that now runs for several weeks each June.

From 1994 to 2009, Tang Yuk was director of choral music and associate director of the Program in Musical Performance at Princeton University. He also spent 10 seasons with the Opera Festival of New Jersey, which the PSO described as a precursor to the Princeton Festival.

Tang Yuk was a native of Trinidad and Tobago and a licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom. He earned conducting degrees from Mannes College of Music and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

The PSO said that after he left the festival in 2020, he contributed a great deal to the growth of music in Trinidad and Tobago.

“He will be missed by those who knew him, but he’s left a legacy for all to enjoy,” the orchestra said in its statement.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com