The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), under the direction of Music Director Andris Nelsons, has announced that violinist Sophie Wang will be promoted to the position of associate concertmaster. Her new role will take effect this summer, coinciding with the start of the BSO’s renowned Tanglewood season.
A BSO member since 2022, Wang will also step into the associate concertmaster role for the Boston Pops, succeeding Alexander Velinzon, who advanced to first associate concertmaster last summer. This change follows the recent appointment of Nathan Cole as the BSO’s new concertmaster in July 2024.
In the orchestra hierarchy, the associate concertmaster ranks third in the first violin section. Positioned in the outer seat of the second stand, Wang will be responsible for stepping in for the concertmaster or first associate concertmaster when needed.
Originally from Irmo, South Carolina, Wang has performed as a soloist with the New England Philharmonic, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and the Schwob School of Music Philharmonic. She is also scheduled to appear as a soloist with the Boston Civic Symphony in November 2025.
Before joining the BSO, Wang held roles as senior assistant concertmaster with the South Carolina Philharmonic and assistant principal second violin with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Her background includes a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center and participation in other respected music festivals such as the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, Taos School of Music, and Sarasota Music Festival.
Wang’s academic achievements include a graduate diploma and master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, in addition to a bachelor’s degree from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, where she was a Woodruff Award recipient. Her primary instructors have included Malcolm Lowe, Donald Weilerstein, Sergiu Schwartz, and William Terwilliger.
“We are thrilled to promote Sophie Wang to the role of associate concertmaster,” said BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons. “Sophie has been an essential part of our string section since she joined in 2022. She is a gifted musician whose talent and dedication stand out. This is a well-deserved recognition of her contributions, and we look forward to the joy and energy she’ll bring to this position—especially as we begin the Tanglewood season, where Sophie once trained as a Fellow under our former concertmaster, Malcolm Lowe.”
In response to the announcement, Wang expressed her excitement and gratitude. “I am honored to take on the role of associate concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra,” she said. “It’s a privilege to work with Andris Nelsons and my remarkable colleagues, and I’m thrilled to begin this new chapter at Tanglewood. Boston has been my home for the past nine years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing to this community through the power of music.”
Wang’s promotion marks another step in her accomplished musical journey and reflects the BSO’s continued commitment to excellence within its esteemed ensemble.
