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Sophie Wang Appointed Associate Concertmaster of Boston Symphony

June 11, 2025, 5:13 PM · The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Music Director Andris Nelsons announced the promotion of violinist Sophie Wang to associate concertmaster, effective this summer, at the start of the BSO's Tanglewood season. A BSO member since 2022, Wang will also become associate concertmaster of the Boston Pops, filling the vacancy left by Alexander Velinzon when he was promoted to first associate concertmaster last summer. Violinist Nathan Cole joined the BSO as its new concertmaster in July 2024.

As the third highest-ranking member of the first violin section, the associate concertmaster is seated in the outer seat of the second stand, behind the concertmaster and first associate concertmaster, and fills in for those positions as needed.

A native of Irmo, South Carolina, Wang has been featured as soloist with the New England Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, and Schwob School of Music Philharmonic, and will appear with the Boston Civic Symphony in November 2025.

Prior to joining the BSO, she was senior assistant concertmaster of the South Carolina Philharmonic and assistant principal second violin of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. She was a Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center and has also participated in festivals such as the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, Taos School of Music, and Sarasota Music Festival. Wang holds a graduate diploma and master’s degree from New England Conservatory, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, where she was a recipient of the Woodruff Award. Her principal teachers have included Malcolm Lowe, Donald Weilerstein, Sergiu Schwartz, and William Terwilliger.

"It gives the Boston Symphony Orchestra and me great pleasure to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sophie Wang on her promotion to the position of associate concertmaster," said BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons. "Sophie is a highly talented musician and an integral part of our string section since joining the BSO in 2022. Her new role commences this summer at Tanglewood, where Sophie previously studied as a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center under our former longtime concertmaster Malcolm Lowe. The BSO and I wish Sophie joy and success as she embraces this wonderful advancement!”

"I am honored to take on the role of associate concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra," Wang said. "Working alongside Andris Nelsons and my incredible colleagues is a true privilege, and I am excited to begin this new chapter at Tanglewood. I am grateful to have called Boston home for the past nine years, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community through extraordinary music making."

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• Nathan Cole Named Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Alexander Velinzon Named First Associate Concertmaster of Boston Symphony
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