Jessica Hu MARLBORO — A crowd sits in front of Jessica Hu, while an orchestra sits behind her as she raises her flute to her lips. Soon the Morganville native releases the notes to Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major as she begins her solo, backed by the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jessica, 16, earned the opportunity to perform with the orchestra through the Bravura’s 2011 Young Artists Concerto Competition. She and three other young musicians were selected from a group of more than 45 hopefuls from across New Jersey.
Jessica performed with the orchestra on May 22.
Music has been a part of Jessica’s life for years. She recalled that as a child her parents were always singing, filling their home with music. At the age of 4, Jessica began taking piano lessons. She loved expressing her emotions through singing or through the keys of her piano.
As a pianist, Jessica earned many awards and opportunities. She studied with Liang-Huei Huang Tsai and passed the Associated
Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 piano examination, along with receiving awards from the Asian American Fine Arts Association, the New Jersey Music Teachers Association Recital Auditions and the Shore Music Educators Association Evaluation Program.
Jessica began playing flute in the fourth grade and began to seriously pursue the instrument in the sixth grade. She has been practicing with teacher Joseph Lu for four years.
Lu asked Jessica if she would be interested in taking part in the Bravura’s 2011 Young Artists Concerto Competition.
Jessica said she decided to go for it, looking at the opportunity as a chance to gain experience and have fun.
“It’s not always about winning, it’s just about having fun,” the young woman said.
But Jessica did win and she secured a soloist spot in the May 22 competition which was held at the Princeton Alliance Church, Plainsboro. The evening was one of best nights of her life, Jessica said, noting that not everyone has a chance to perform a solo while being supported by an orchestra.
Her friends and family members supported her as she performed the work by Mozart.
Jessica said she likes to bring the composers’ works to life.
Under Lu’s instruction, Jessica has participated in the All-Shore Intermediate Band, in which she was first chair flutist during the 2007-08 year. She has also participated in the Region II Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and currently plays in the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra.
She has performed at Lincoln Center and atWeill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, both in New York City, and at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia.
But Jessica is still a teenage girl who embraces her love of music while playing in the Marlboro High School band. Jessica has just completed her sophomore year at the high school.
Jessica plans to pursue a degree in music when she attends college. She hopes to attend the University of Michigan or the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
To those who love music but who may be hesitant to pursue it, Jessica offers the following advice: “If you have the passion and the drive, then go for it,” she said.
Jessica has that passion when she performs.
“You feel it, then you know it’s right,” she said.

