Sha Wang '02

Winner of the 16th International Young Artist Piano Competition, Washington, D.C. at age of 19, Dr. Wang has launched a performing career that brought her from China to the United States and from California to New York. Her artistry has put her in the most elite group of pianists worldwide. She has advanced into the competitions, such as the Jose Iturbi International Music Competition, Hilton-Head International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition. She is the grand prize winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Competition in 2008 and has been a performing artist for the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania. Her New York Debut took place at the Peter Norton Symphony Space in Manhattan in Spring 2006. As a collaborative pianist, she has performed with artists, such as pianist Lang Lang, violinist Kun Dong (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra), soprano Tamara Wilson (Houston Opera) and the members of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Upon her winning in Washington, D.C, World Journal did a special interview with Ms. Wang and praised her to be the next star among young Chinese pianists.

Born into a musical family in Tianjin, China, Wang started her early music training at age of five. As a baby, she was brought to rehearsals by her grandfather, the former Dean of Tianjin Conservatory of Music. Her mother was her first piano teacher. At age of nine, she made her first debut on Tianjin Public Television. Her early success consists of winning the first prize at the Long Beach Mozart Festival Concerto Competition and many other engagements including performing with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and Pasadena Pops Orchestra as guest soloist. Her performance of the Emperor Concerto by Beethoven was highly received by the critics, this young lady is a real talent (Long Beach Gazette). She performs regularly in the concert series at Richard Nixon's Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Pasadena Presbyterian Church, and was featured in the concert for former U.S. President Ford.

Dr. Wang is also a passionate new music promoter. She has premiered compositions of most current composers. Her active participation in new music festivals, such as Music X and Grandin Music Festival, gave her the opportunities to work with composers such as Joel Hoffman, Martin Bresnick, Kaija Saariaho, and Michael Torke.

As an active pianist, she also attended the Aspen International Music Festival and School, where she studied with Mr. John Perry and was part of the Young Artist Concert Series at the Wheeler Opera House. Ms. Wang holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, where she became the youngest doctoral graduate ever from the Conservatory. Her teachers include Karen Knecht, John Perry, Richard Fields, and Frank Weinstock. Her interests in music theory and musicology have awarded her with paper presentations at conferences, such as the Royal Music Association Research Conference in United Kingdom. She is currently working on theoretical publications on Stravinsky's Neoclassicism. Dr. Wang has been on faculty at the Interlochen Arts Academy as a vocal/opera coach and music theory teacher at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor in piano and theory at Geneva College.

More information on Sha Wang can be found at http://www.shawang.net/