Mannes School of Music Appoints New Faculty Member 

Violist Cong Wu has joined the faculty of the New York-based music school

The New School’s Mannes School of Music has welcomed Cong Wu as its newest faculty member. Wu has played in the New York Philharmonic as Assistant Principal Viola since September 2018. 

Recently, Wu was also appointed to the viola faculty of the Manhattan School of Music (MSM). He previously served on the faculty of SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music and Canada’s National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute. 

He has further taught at the Shanghai Orchestra Academy, plus been invited to give masterclasses at the Mead Witter School of Music, China Conservatory of Music, and Hong Kong Baptist University.  

Among Wu’s chamber music collaborators include Christoph Eschenbach, David Finckel, Hilary Hahn, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Wiley, Pinchas Zukerman, the American String Quartet, and many New York Philharmonic musicians. 

He has also appeared at the Marlboro Music Festival, Perlman Music Program, Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society, Music@Menlo, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Chestnut Hill Concerts, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, and Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. 

Wu’s solo appearances have included those with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, New York Classical Players, and the Long Island Concert Orchestra, and has regularly performed with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, and New York Classical Players.  

A graduate of the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, Wu earned a master’s degree from The Juilliard School and a doctoral degree from MSM; his mentors included Wing Ho, Heidi Castleman, Hsin-Yun Huang, Patinka Kopec, and Pinchas Zukerman. He was also formerly a prize winner at the 14th Primrose International Viola Competition, and the 12th Tertis International Viola Competition.