Sophie Tang

Sophie Tang is an Assistant Professor of Violin at the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, Western Michigan University. She previously taught at the University of Toledo School of Music and has served as a judge for prestigious competitions like the New York Laureate International Music Competition and Hong Kong International Violin Competition. Tang is the founder and artistic director of the Hantong International Summer Music Festival and music director of the Cincinnati Music and Arts Society.

Education:

• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Violin Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
• Master of Music (MM) in Violin Performance, University of Southern California
• Bachelor of Music (BM) in Violin Performance, Renmin University of China
• Artist Diploma, McDuffie Center for Strings

Her research interests focus on violin performance, chamber music collaboration, and music pedagogy. She has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Cincinnati Symphony, Toledo Symphony, and National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa. Tang’s artistic contributions include recordings of Antonín Dvořák’s Romance for Violin and leadership in festivals like the Hantong International Summer Music Festival.

Awards & Honors:

• First Prize, 2021 Golden State International Music Competition
• Excellence in Performance Award, 2016 Schoenfeld International String Competition
• First Prize, 2019 Hong Kong International Music Festival

Advising & Mentorship: Tang has over 10 years of teaching experience, guiding students who have won top prizes in competitions and secured scholarships to prestigious festivals and institutions. Her mentorship has led students to pursue doctoral and master’s degrees at schools like the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Tianjin Juilliard School.

Labs & Initiatives: She directs the Hantong International Summer Music Festival and Cincinnati Music and Arts Society, fostering artistic growth and community engagement through collaborations with artists like Matthias Pintscher and Alisa Weilerstein.