Zhiyi Wang (b.1980) is a multi-award-winning composer for contemporary classical and film genres.

Wang's compositions represent an intricate blend of Oriental influences, Western avant-garde, and classical traditions. He has created a wide range of music spanning different genres, including contemporary classical, film and TV scores, modern ballet, musicals, world music, and pop music. His music has been performed by renowned artists like Yuri Bashmet, Sarah Brightman, Lang Lang, Li-Wei Qin, and various orchestras and ensembles such as China National Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic, NCPA Orchestra, The Orchestra of China National Opera House, The Orchestra of Shanghai Opera House, Brno Philharmonic, China Broadcast Symphony Orchestra, Senzoku Gakuen New Philharmonic, Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, Lviv Chamber Orchestra, Eighth Blackbird, Moscow Soloists, Sound Ways Ensemble, Ensemble Les Amis, ConTempo Quartet, Baroque Camerata, Lemberg Sinfonietta, Villiers String Quartet, and many others across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Wang was a core member of the music crew for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He created a variety of musical programs for the Opening Ceremony, including the Fanfare for the Ceremony, which was performed during the opening speeches of Jacques Rogge (President of the International Olympic Committee) and Liu Qi (President of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games). Wang's arrangements consisted of four programs: the theme song You and Me (performed by Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan), the duet song Dream of the Five Rings, Ritual Music, and Lighting of the Olympic Cauldron. The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee has acknowledged Wang's immense contribution to the spirit of the ceremonies. In addition, he transcribed the orchestral version of the Beijing Olympic Theme Song You and Me for the 2012 New Year's Concert at the China National Centre for the Performing Arts, conducted by Lorin Maazel. Furthermore, Wang was appointed as a composer for the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibitions Opening Ceremony.

In the contemporary domain, Wang has won numerous awards from international composition competitions. He has also received the Grawemeyer Fellowship and has served as Composer-in-Residence at several institutions, including the Shanghai Opera House, the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan, Sacrarium International Composers' Forum in Ukraine, and the International Contemporary Arts Academy in Romania. Wang is frequently commissioned to create music by various orchestras, festivals, and organizations. Since 2019, the Winter International Arts Festival in Sochi has commissioned him to create new music for Yuri Bashmet and Moscow Soloists for its opening and closing concerts. Notably, Wang's piano work, Etude for Concert, was performed by Anna Kislitsyna at Carnegie Hall in June 2022.

Wang has collaborated with some of the most prominent directors in Chinese cinema, such as Kaige Chen, Yimou Zhang, and Hark Tsui, in the realm of film music. He has received many accolades from various film awards. The film The Battle at Lake Changjin, of his score, became the world's second highest-grossing film in 2021 and the new champion of China's all-time box office. His latest score, The Volunteers: To the War, received the Most Popular Music Award at the 21st China Movie Channel Media Awards. In addition to films, Wang has also composed the original music and theme songs for various TV series and documentaries. His song, Romantic Attachment, for the documentary The Louvre Meets the Forbidden City, is included in the music textbook for middle schools throughout China.

Wang is also a renowned figure in the pop music industry. He was nominated for Best Arranger in the 25th Golden Melody Awards twice for his exceptional work on the album Li Jian Classic Remake Collections. Wang has collaborated with many well-known singers from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. He has made significant contributions to China's most popular singing reality shows, including I Am a Singer, Grammy Salute to China Star, and X-Factor, where he showcased his talent by creating his versions of classic songs. The instrumental song, Where the Heart Is, won him six awards internationally.

Born in China, Wang holds a BM and MM in music composition from Oberlin College Conservatory and the University of Louisville, where he studied under Randolph Coleman and Marc Satterwhite. He has been honored with an Alumni Award from both institutions. Wang is a voting member of The Recording Academy and World Soundtrack Academy. He is an honored listee in Marquis Who's Who. He serves on the jury at the LIT Music Awards and Tencent Wave Music Committee. Wang is an appointed Industry Mentor at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and has been a guest faculty at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Leon Fleisher Academy. He lives in Los Angeles.

Zhiyi Wang

Composer

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Best Classical Work & Best Instrumentalist from 2024 InterContinental Music Awards