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Liang Wang (oboist)

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Liang Wang
Born1980 (age 43–44)
Qingdao, China
GenresClassical Music
OccupationMusician
InstrumentOboe

Liang Wang (born 1980) is a Chinese-American musician who served as the principal oboist in the New York Philharmonic.

Career

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Wang was born in Qingdao, China, and studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California.[1] He received his bachelor's degree from Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Woodhams.[2] 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][4] As a concerto soloist, he debuted at the Hong Kong Arts Festival during the orchestra's 2008 tour of Asia[5] and at Carnegie Hall in 2009 [6] 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,[7] Christopher Rouse's oboe concerto,[8][9] and Chen Qigang's Extase.[10]

As a chamber musician, Wang has performed at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival,[11] the La Jolla Music Society,[12] the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center,[13] and the Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium.[14] Wang has recorded with the Poulenc Trio.[15][16]

In addition to his performances, Wang is a faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music, where he teaches oboe.[17] He was named an honorary professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Shanghai Conservatory.[18] 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.[19]

Wang was named “the artist of the year” by the Beijing Music Festival in 2014.[20] The award was presented by Deng Xiaoping's daughter Deng Rong. He was also invited by Xi Jinping to perform with the Orchestre Colonne de France at Versailles to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of French-Chinese diplomatic relations.[21]

Misconduct allegations

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The New York Philharmonic fired Wang in 2018 for "unspecified misconduct".[22] His termination was the result of a 6-month investigation by former federal judge Barbara S. Jones which concluded Wang and another player "engaged in misconduct warranting their termination."[23] Their union, American Federation of Musicians Local 802, challenged both of their dismissals through binding arbitration. The arbitrator, Richard Bloch, found that the Philharmonic dismissed both men without sufficient cause, and they were reinstated. About the underlying allegations, Bloch wrote, "nothing in this opinion should be read as concluding that all doubt has been removed concerning the actions."[24]

On April 16, 2024, Vulture published an article elaborating that a colleague accused Wang of providing her a drink she later suspected to contain GHB.[23][25] She was then allegedly raped by the other accused player.[23][25] In response to Vulture's reporting, the orchestra committee of the 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. Philharmonic CEO Gary Ginstling confirmed that neither Wang nor his accused colleague would perform for the time being.[25] The Philharmonic commissioned an outside investigation into its culture.[26]

On May 1, 2024 Wang sued the Philharmonic for suspending him “without cause or explanation, and in clear violation of the terms of his employment, which expressly require that he be given opportunities to perform and excel as a musician."[27] The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, describes his suspension from the orchestra as “a cynical reaction to a magazine article that the Philharmonic knows to be inaccurate.”[28] His absence from a scheduled performance of Mozart's oboe concerto, as a soloist, was notable in its timing shortly after allegations resurfaced.[29] On July 11, 2024 the CEO of the Philharmonic resigned.[30]

On November 4, 2024, the New York Philharmonic informed Wang that he would be dismissed at the start of the next season after an outside investigation found “patterns of sexual misconduct and abuse of power." Wang will remain on paid leave until the start of the 2025-26 season, when the Philharmonic plans to employ a “non-reengagement” clause in his contract.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Idyllwild Arts Academy". Idyllwild Arts Academy - Where are they now?. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  2. ^ Wakin, Daniel (April 8, 2007). "Pilgrim With an Oboe, Citizen of the World". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Wakin, Daniel (April 8, 2007). "Pilgrim With an Oboe, Citizen of the World". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Liang Wang Q&A". New York Philharmonic. January 5, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Westpahl, Matthew. "New York Philharmonic Reveals Details of 2008 Asia Tour". Playbill.
  6. ^ "Renowned Qingdao Symphony Orchestra to Join the New York Choral Society for Chinese New Year Concert". 24/7.
  7. ^ Kozinn, Allan (January 4, 2009). "A Hefty Sound for Bach and a Piano-Centric Strauss and Szymanowski". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Smith, Steve (November 17, 2013). "Shifting Gears to Explore the Realm of the Oboe". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Ramey, Corinne (November 14, 2013). "Philharmonic's Rouse Writes Musical Workouts for Conductor, Musicians". Wall Street Journal.
  10. ^ Smith, Steve (January 25, 2012). "The Lyricism of Chinese New Year". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Tommasini, Anthony (August 12, 2011). "Santa Fe Celebration Includes New York". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Varga, George (June 10, 2018). "SummerFest music director Cho-Liang 'Jimmy' Lin will bow out with poise and panache". San Diego Union Tribune.
  13. ^ "Liang Wang, Principal Oboe". New York Philharmonic.
  14. ^ Woolfe, Zachery (December 26, 2014). "With Bright Eyes and Nimble Fingers, a Young Orchestra Flaunts Its Depth". The New York Times.
  15. ^ "Liang Wang Joins the Poulenc Trio". Poulenc Trio website.
  16. ^ "Liang Wang - Manhattan School of Music". Manhattan School of Music.
  17. ^ Wakin, Daniel (November 14, 2012). "Philharmonic Establishes Partnership With Shanghai". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "Chinese American: Inclusion / Exclusion". New York Historical Society. September 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Principal Oboe Liang Wang Named Artist of the Year by Beijing International Music Festival". New York Philharmonic.
  20. ^ "Chinese President visit to France: concert of Liang Wang". Loree – Paris. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  21. ^ Cooper, Matthew. "New York Philharmonic Dismisses 2 Players for Unspecified Misconduct", New York Times. September 16, 2018.
  22. ^ a b c Sussman, Sammy (April 12, 2024). "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. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024.
  23. ^ Woolfe, Zachary (April 7, 2020). "Philharmonic Players, Fired on Misconduct Grounds, Are Reinstated". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Hernández, Javier C. "Philharmonic Sidelines 2 Players It Tried to Fire for Misconduct", New York Times. April 15, 2024.
  25. ^ Hernández, Javier C. (April 18, 2024). "Philharmonic Opens Inquiry After Misconduct Allegations Are Revived". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  26. ^ Hernández, Javier C. (May 2, 2024). "2 Players Sue Philharmonic, Saying They Were Wrongfully Suspended". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  27. ^ https://slippedisc.com/2024/05/just-in-principal-oboe-sues-the-ny-philharmonic/
  28. ^ Woolfe, Zachary (May 9, 2024). "Review: An Absent Player in the Spotlight at the Philharmonic". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  29. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/11/arts/music/new-york-philharmonic-gary-ginstling.html
  30. ^ "Philharmonic Dismisses 2 Players Over Sexual Misconduct Accusations". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
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