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Liang Wang (oboist)

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Liang Wang
Birth nameWang Liang
Born1980 (age 43–44)
GenresClassical Music
OccupationMusician
InstrumentOboe

Liang Wang (born 1980) is an American oboist. In 2006, he joined the New York Philharmonic as the principal oboe, The Alice Tully Chair.[1]

Career

Wang was born in Qingdao, China, and studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California.[2] He received his bachelor's degree from Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Woodhams. He was a fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival and the Music Academy of the West.

Upon graduation from Curtis in 2003, Wang was offered a position as principal oboe of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, but turned it down in favor of the same position with the orchestra of the San Francisco Ballet. Shortly after that, he was appointed to the San Francisco Symphony. Two weeks later he won an audition for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, where he served as principal oboe. While in that position, he was a finalist in auditions for principal oboe in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra. Wang declined positions with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Houston Grand Opera in order to perform with the Santa Fe Opera as principal oboe. He also won an audition for the Metropolitan Opera's orchestra, electing, instead, to join the New York Philharmonic.

Wang was hired as principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 2006 by Lorin Maazel.[3] As a concerto soloist, he debuted at the Hong Kong Arts Festival during the orchestra's 2008 tour of Asia[4] and at Carnegie Hall in 2009 [5] as well as numerous appearances at Alice Tully Hall. Notable interpretations of the repertoire include Strauss and Mozart's oboe concertos, Bach's Brandenburg concertos,[6] Christopher Rouse's oboe concerto,[7][8] and Chen Qigang's Extase.[9]

As a chamber musician, Wang has performed at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival,[10] the La Jolla Music Society,[11] the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center,[12] and the Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium.[13] Wang has recorded with the Poulenc Trio.[14][15]

In addition to his performances, Wang is a faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music, where he teaches oboe.[16] He was named an honorary professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Shanghai Conservatory.[17] Wang has offered master classes at the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, New York University, The New School, Seoul University, and music conservatories in Singapore, Hanoi, Beijing, and Shanghai.[18]

Wang was named “the artist of the year” by the Beijing Music Festival in 2014.[19] The award was presented by Deng Xiaoping's daughter Deng Rong. He was also invited by President Xi to perform with the Orchestre Colonne de France at Versailles to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of French-Chinese diplomatic relations.[20] He lives in New York with his wife and two children.

Misconduct allegations

The New York Philharmonic fired Wang in 2018 for "unspecified misconduct".[21] His termination was the result of a 6-month investigation by former federal judge Barbara S. Jones which concluded Wang and a colleague "engaged in misconduct warranting their termination."[22] Wang sought arbitration through his union, American Federation of Musicians Local 802. The arbitrator, Richard Bloch, found that the Philharmonic dismissed Wang without sufficient cause, and he was reinstated to his position in the orchestra. About the underlying allegations, Bloch wrote, "nothing in this opinion should be read as concluding that all doubt has been removed concerning the actions."[23]

In April 2024, Vulture published an article elaborating that Wang was accused of serving drugged wine to a former Philharmonic player who was sexually assaulted by another colleague while the orchestra was on tour.[22] In response to Vulture's reporting, the orchestra committee of the New York Philharmonic gave a statement to the New York Times affirming its belief in Wang's misconduct and that it was part of a repeated pattern.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Liang Wang Q&A". New York Philharmonic. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  2. ^ "Idyllwild Arts Academy". Idyllwild Arts Academy - Where are they now?. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  3. ^ Wakin, Daniel (8 April 2007). "Pilgrim With an Oboe, Citizen of the World". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Westpahl, Matthew. "New York Philharmonic Reveals Details of 2008 Asia Tour". Playbill.
  5. ^ "Renowned Qingdao Symphony Orchestra to Join the New York Choral Society for Chinese New Year Concert". 24/7.
  6. ^ Kozinn, Allan (4 January 2009). "A Hefty Sound for Bach and a Piano-Centric Strauss and Szymanowski". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Smith, Steve (17 November 2013). "Shifting Gears to Explore the Realm of the Oboe". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Ramey, Corinne (14 November 2013). "Philharmonic's Rouse Writes Musical Workouts for Conductor, Musicians". Wall Street Journal.
  9. ^ Smith, Steve (25 January 2012). "The Lyricism of Chinese New Year". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (12 August 2011). "Santa Fe Celebration Includes New York". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Varga, George (10 June 2018). "SummerFest music director Cho-Liang 'Jimmy' Lin will bow out with poise and panache". San Diego Union Tribune.
  12. ^ "Liang Wang, Principal Oboe". New York Philharmonic.
  13. ^ Woolfe, Zachery (26 December 2014). "With Bright Eyes and Nimble Fingers, a Young Orchestra Flaunts Its Depth". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "Liang Wang Joins the Poulenc Trio". Poulenc Trio website.
  15. ^ "Liang Wang - Manhattan School of Music". Manhattan School of Music.
  16. ^ Wakin, Daniel (14 November 2012). "Philharmonic Establishes Partnership With Shanghai". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "Chinese American: Inclusion / Exclusion". New York Historical Society. 11 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Principal Oboe Liang Wang Named Artist of the Year by Beijing International Music Festival". New York Philharmonic.
  19. ^ "Chinese President visit to France: concert of Liang Wang". Loree – Paris. Archived from the original on 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
  20. ^ Cooper, Matthew. "New York Philharmonic Dismisses 2 Players for Unspecified Misconduct", New York Times. September 16, 2018.
  21. ^ a b Sussman, Sammy. "A Hidden Sexual-Assault Scandal at the New York Philharmonic: Two musicians were fired for sexual misconduct. Why are they back with the orchestra?", Vulture. April 12, 2024.
  22. ^ Woolfe, Zachary. "Philharmonic Players, Fired on Misconduct Grounds, Are Reinstated", New York Times. April 7, 2020.
  23. ^ Hernández, Javier C. "Philharmonic Sidelines 2 Players It Tried to Fire for Misconduct", New York Times. April 15, 2024.
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