Oboe: Huang Zheng
World-famous oboist Huang Zheng was born in a musician family in Changsha. He has studied in the Middle School Affiliated to China Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) with Prof. Zhu Dun. In high school, he was enrolled at the Oberlin Conservatory in advance with a full scholarship, working with James Caldwell. After graduation, he received the “Excellent Oboist Prize” from the principal. In 1999, he became the oboe principal in New World Symphony and won the First Prize in the 28th Kingsville Competition.
As the first Chinese guest oboe principal, Dr. Huang has worked with many major orchestras in Europe, Asia, and North America, including Los Angles Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Singapore Symphony, and Staatskapelle Berlin. The critics highly approved of him. Miami Daily commented: “It is not a huge stretch to imagine that Huang could become the James Galway of his instrument – the first oboist to forge a legitimate and international solo career.” And Santa Barbara Daily praised he had “a gentle and rich tone and perfect techniques.” In 2002, he was recruited as the first Chinese oboe principal in Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. During this time, he taught oboe at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2008, he became a permanent resident of Hong Kong as a part of the Hong Kong’s Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.
For the past many years, as an active music education promoter in China and Britain, Dr. Huang has been invited to attend international music forums and events held by the British Royal Family and the Royal College of Music (RCM) for multiple times. In 2016, Prince Charles awarded him an honors bachelor’s degree from the RCM.
In January 2018, Dr. Huang was invited to be a founding member of the International Board of Directors of London Philharmonic Orchestra. Two months later, in recognition of his outstanding achievement, he was awarded the 6th Excellent Chinese Artist Prize and an honors doctor degree from Sabi University.
Dr. Huang Zheng is currently the Marketing Director of China at the Rachmaniloff Conservatory in Paris, a visiting professor of oboe at Qingdao Menuhin School, and Guest principal oboist of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
