To the Editor:

Lovers of the performing arts in Princeton, central Jersey, and beyond owe a debt of gratitude to Richard Tang Yuk, general and artistic director of the Princeton Festival, for the quality and variety of programs he brought to us every June for 16 consecutive years. As many people know, he stepped aside from his position in 2020, but continued to maintain a home in our community.

When he recently decided to relocate to his native Trinidad, a group including former Festival board chairs Laney Kulsrud, David Brown, and Costa Papastephanou and longtime board members Pamela Bristol and Tom Lento, all who have worked with him over the years to make the Festival a joyous and successful enterprise, got together to express their gratitude for his formative leadership of this Princeton institution. We are sure many in the community share our sentiments.

We would like to share the following Resolution, which was presented to him on November 17 on the occasion of his departure:

On the occasion of Richard Tang Yuk’s resigning as general and artistic director of The Princeton Festival and relocating far from the Princeton area.

Whereas in the winter of 2004 Richard Tang Yuk proposed to a small group gathered for coffee at The Princeton Diner to lament the demise of Opera Festival of New Jersey that they should found a festival for the performing arts in Princeton;

Whereas Richard as both general and artistic director of the organization known as The Princeton Festival proved his skills as both businessman and artist;

Whereas Richard was not afraid to take well thought out, significant risks in the interests of quality while building an artistically recognized yet always financially sound Festival;

Whereas Richard managed to build The Princeton
Festival’s quality and stature while simultaneously holding two very demanding jobs, routinely squeezing 30 hours into 24-hour days;

Whereas Richard achieved productive and trusting relationships with staff, board, artists, community and Festival volunteers with his tact, diplomacy, and consideration of others;

Whereas The Princeton Festival under Richard’s leadership became increasingly recognized and acclaimed by audiences and critics alike for its world class opera and exciting variety of high quality programs, soon becoming known as the premiere performing arts organization in New Jersey;

Now, therefore be it Resolved, that members of past Princeton Festival boards of directors salute and applaud Richard Tang Yuk for his extraordinary accomplishments as the leader of The Princeton Festival from its very beginnings, remembering with deep appreciation that at all times they had complete trust that he would both unfailingly want the best for the Festival and that he would do the right thing.

Marcia Atcheson
Hollinshead Spring Road, Skillman

Deborah Herman
Franklin Avenue, Princeton

Markell Shriver
Montgomery Road, Skillman

Judy Stelian
Overlook Way, Lawrenceville