Liang Wang

Who is Liang Wang?

Liang Wang is the current principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic. He was born in Qing Dao, China, and studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and at California’s Idyllwild Arts Academy. 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 School and at the Music Academy of the West.

Upon graduation from Curtis in 2003, he 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 Associate Principal oboe chair of the San Francisco Symphony. Two weeks later he won an audition for principal oboe in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. While in that position, he was a finalist in auditions for principal oboe in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra. He won an audition for the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, also was offered one year principal position at the Houston Grand Opera, but turned both down after winning an audition for principal oboe in the Santa Fe Opera.