University News Last updated 31 May 2017
World-renowned cellist Jian Wang has taken up a new role at Birmingham Conservatoire as International Chair in Cello.
Born in Xi’an, China, and today splitting his time between Shanghai and London, Jian Wang has an international career that has seen him perform with many of the world's leading orchestras.
On taking up his new position as International Chair of Cello at Birmingham Conservatoire, Jian Wang said:
“The UK is one of the most vibrant centres for music and I am very excited and looking forward to working with the cello students at Birmingham Conservatoire, and to collaborating with and learning from my colleagues.”
The appointment will see Jian visit Birmingham Conservatoire on a regular basis, where he will lead a class of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as they seek to lead the next generation of great cellists.
Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Birmingham Conservatoire, noted:
“I am delighted to welcome Jian Wang to Birmingham Conservatoire as our International Chair in Cello. Jian Wang is one of the finest solo cellists in the world today and he will be a great inspiration to all our students.
“Jian’s appointment is another step on our journey as we head towards opening the first purpose-built conservatoire in a generation in September!”
Part of Birmingham City University, the new Birmingham Conservatoire will be a unique contemporary building, incorporating five public performance spaces including a new 500 seat concert hall for orchestral training and performance, private rehearsal and practice rooms, and teaching spaces for musicians from a variety of disciplines.
Furthermore, as the first purpose built conservatoire in the UK since 1987, it will be the only one of its kind in the country designed for the demands of the digital age.
Following the news of Jian Wang’s appointment, Dr Louise Lansdown, Head of Strings, Birmingham Conservatoire, commented:
”We are thrilled to welcome the iconic cellist Jian Wang to our staff and cannot wait for him to begin work with our cellists just in time for our new Conservatoire opening later this year!”
In June 2017 we announced that also joining the Strings Department is Ben Davies, tutor of Sheku Kanneh-Mason, BBC Young Musician 2016, who joins us as a Cello Tutor from September 2017.