Wang Ying was born in Shanghai, China. She began her musical education at the age of four, receiving piano lessons from her father, the composer Wang Xilin. At the Shanghai Conservatory of Music she studied composition with Gang Chen, Daqun Jia and instrumentation with Yang Liqin, completing a bachelor's degree with honors in 2002. In 2003 she moved to Cologne, Germany for graduate studies with York Höller at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. From 2008 she studied electronic composition with Michael Beil and composition with Johannes Schöllhorn and Rebecca Saunders. In 2010 she completed a master's degree in contemporary music at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts as well as working with Helmut Lachenmann. At the Cologne Conservatory she studied for the Diplom and concert exam in composition as well as one in electronic composition – both were completed in 2011. In 2011 she was chosen to study at the “Cursus de composition et d’informatique musicale” at IRCAM in Paris, where she studied with Mauro Lanza, Philippe Leroux and Ivan Fedele, graduating in 2012. Wang has taken part in many workshops including the Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music, the composition workshop of the Suvisotto-Festival in Porvoo, Helsinki, and the Off-Program for Students at the Donaueschingen Festival. She has also worked with Beat Furrer, Jukka Tiensuu and Misato Mochizuki. Wang’s compositions include solo music, chamber music, electronic music, as well as pieces for orchestra. Her music combines the sounds of China with elements of European avant-garde music. Her works have been performed in China, Germany, France, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Austria and the United States. She has collaborated with various ensembles such as Avanti!, the International Ensemble Modern Academy, Ensemble Alternance, Baikonur Ensemble, Cassatt Quartet, IzM Ensemble Frankfurt, Norrbotten NEO, Ensemble United Berlin, Ensemble en plythos, Ensemble Atlas, Lanxess Young Euro Classic Festival Ensemble, the orchestra of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, Jeunesse-Kammerchor and the Gürzenich Orchestra. Wang has won prizes at composition competitions of the Franz Josef Reinl-Stiftung, “Jing-Bei”, China and at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. She has received commissions from the Young Euro Classic Festival, the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, the International Ensemble Modern Academy, Theater Rüsselsheim, Kasseler Musiktage, Villa Musica and the International Young Composer Festival in Kraków. In 2009–10 she received a scholarship from the International Ensemble Modern Academy in Frankfurt. In 2010 she was composer in residence at the Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and held scholarships from Herrenhaus Edenkoben through the recommendation of Peter Eötvös. A portrait concert of Wang Ying was held at the Haus der Deutsche Ensemble Akademie in Frankfurt in 2010. In 2012 she became the second female composer to win the Biennial Brandenburg Symphony Composition Competition, winning the 5th Brandenburg Biennale.
List of Works
Orchestra
Die Trauerfeier der Blumen for gu zheng, soprano and orchestra
...wie Fern, wie Hell… for orchestra
Yi.Yi.Yi. 3 Movements for string orchestra
Phantasmagoria for orchestra
Steel, Steam, Storm for orchestra
Focus-Fission for orchestra
Ensemble
The Mountain Spirit for flute, oboe, clarinet, guitar, harp, piano, percussion, violin, viola, violoncello and contrabass
Augenblicke...Versenkung! for flute, clarinet, bassoon., harp, violoncello and piano
Fließende Emotion for flute, oboe, clarinet, percussion, violin, viola and violoncello
...wie Fern, wie Hell... for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, trombone, 2 percussionists, piano, harp, 2 violins, viola, violoncello and contrabass
Nur Ich for gu zheng, pipa, sheng, percussion, piano, violin, viola and violoncello
Fokus-Axis for ensemble
Vocal music
Echo aus den Vergangenheit I for 2 Choirs
Die Gasse im Regen for speaker, flute, harp and mixed choir
Ursprung des Klangs for choir and 3 percussionists
Pie-R-Rot for voices and ensemble
F-Ü-I-D for baritone and piano
Chamber opera
Wilde Gräser for mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, choir and ensemble