ABOUT Melissa Wang
SESSION TITLE: Performance of “Self-Accusation” by Kate Neal, text by Peter Handke
Melissa Wang is a composer, educator, and percussionist. She studied at the University of Washington (UW), studying Percussion Performance with the interest in theatrical percussion, as well as Composition with the interest in incorporating unconventional choreographies in existing genres such as choreography in the Wind Band repertoire. She received the Bachelor of Music with emphases in Percussion Performance and Instrumental Education at Northern Illinois University (NIU), under the direction of Dr. Gregory Beyer and Mr. Ben Wahlund. She received the Associate in Fine Arts in Music at College of DuPage (COD) under the direction of Mr. Ben Wahlund, Dr. Tom Tallman, Mr. Lee Kesselman, and Dr. Kenneth Paoli.
Her accomplishments include receiving the Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity Grant for her performance web series Percussion Works by Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+, the 2022 Maude Nicholson Dean’s Award for outstanding artistry, contributions, and academic achievement in Northern Illinois University School of Music, and first place in the 2019 Jack Stone Award for New Music with her winning piece Downright Up and Left performed by Line Upon Line Percussion Ensemble. Her works have been performed by Seattle Modern Orchestra, University of Washington Symphonic Band, and the University of Washington Modern Music Ensemble. Additionally, she performed percussion with Inverted Space in the 2023 Journey to the Black Lodge Tour, the 2017 Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Esoterics in Seattle for their 2024 Splendor & Solace concerts and recordings.
