She describes conductor Zubin Mehta as her musical godfather and singles out Placido Domingo. "He rarely talks about what he wants. He just starts singing. I love this because ultimately we all want to sound like we're singing from start to finish."
These days, when it comes to conductors, she most enjoys "sensitive and very generous musicians who have strong ideas of what they want but always have their eyes on me as sometimes you want to do something spontaneous on stage".
Still only 35, Chang has seen many changes during her three decades in the music business.
"At first I was a young kid surrounded by old men three or four times my age," she explains. "Now those grand old maestros who were so much part of my life are not around. The new generation, like Gustavo Dudamel, have a different dynamic and are so much more collaborative."
Beware though of maestros who earn the label of "dress-ripper... These are the conductors who always stand on my dress," she says. "They walk too close behind me when I go back for curtain-calls."
Chang was born in the United States to Korean parents, who maintained the language and culture of their homeland. "I've had so many wonderful opportunities in my life, from travel and concerts. Although none can compare with being brought up in a bicultural household."
She enjoys her visits to Korea, and admires the respect music has in Korean society. "It's encouraging that so many students come to concerts," she observes. "Music is an integral part of their education and almost every child plays an instrument."
Inevitably, she puts this alongside the situation in the States where "sports is always first in line when there is any kind of funding; everything seems to be about football and baseball".
I remind Chang how once she warned a hopeful young violinist that music would take over one's life if one let it. She laughs, but quickly stresses that this is a very serious issue. Her own concerts and schedules are so well planned she even knows where she will be spending her birthday in 2017.
For recreation she admits to being a "movie nut", and she has a puppy she describes as "master of my universe".
"I have been trying to make an effort to balance music with my personal life. The whole point and joy of being a musician is to be inspired and open yourself up to what life throws at you. But you need a little bit of breathing space to enjoy that."
What: Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Where and when: Auckland Town Hall, Thursday at 7.30pm
