Wilson NG

Biography

Mr. Wilson NG (Hong Kong, China)
Conductor, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra(2019-2022)


Wilson Ng is the Associate Conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra – appointed at the age of 28 as the youngest conductor in the orchestra’s history – and laureate of coveted prizes at prestigious competitions around the world, such as the Mahler Competition in Bamberg, the Sir Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in Frankfurt and the Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris.  

Following his début with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), Wilson Ng’s performance of Shostakovich’s symphony was praised by Yonhap News “as if he had become Shostakovich himself”. He has led the orchestra at subsequent high-profile events, including the Seoul Arts Center Orchestra Festival in 2019 and 2020. His widespread success has led him to conduct other major Korean orchestras, such as the KBS Symphony, Daejeon Philharmonic, Bucheon Philharmonic and Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestras. 

When called, Wilson Ng has also taken the baton as substitute for SPO’s Music Director Osmo Vänskä to conduct three performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – and just one month prior, to stand in for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPhil)’s Music Director Jaap van Zweden to lead the city’s largest musical event titled Symphony Under the Stars and to conduct Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony (“Under his baton, the HKPhil displayed a sinewy refinement” acclaimed Radio Television Hong Kong). 

Wilson Ng has had an ongoing relationship with the HKPhil since 2018. This year, he is back with the orchestra for three concerts at the Hong Kong Arts Festival’s 50th anniversary, including its opening performance. 

Wilson Ng has worked with many leading European orchestras, including the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. His début with the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie at the Alte Oper Frankfurt New Year’s concert, with Scriabin’s Poem of Ecstasy on the program, was critically acclaimed by the Frankfurter Rundschau, which headlined his concert as “The Pinnacle of Ecstasy”. 

Born in Hong Kong, Wilson Ng began his musical journey at the age of 11 learning the flute, which first led him to Paris and Lausanne. He performed as a guest solo flutist with the Lyon National Opera Ballet and gave a recital at the 41st Hong Kong Arts Festival prior to specializing in conducting. He advanced his conducting studies at the Universität der Künste Berlin and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was handpicked for the conducting academies at the Pacific Music Festival and Aspen Music Festival, where he was awarded the James Colon Conductor Prize. His mentors have included Osmo Vänskä, Markus Stenz and John Nelson, with other important influences including Bernard Haitink, David Zinman, Robert Spano and Roger Norrington.  He is also Artistic Director of the Gustav Mahler Orchestra in Hong Kong.