The Boston Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Andris Nelsons have announced the promotion of violinist Sophie Wang to associate concertmaster (Robert L. Beal, Enid L., and Bruce A. Beal chair, endowed in perpetuity), effective at the start of the Tanglewood season.

Wang has been a member of the orchestra since 2022, and will fill the vacancy left by Alexander Velinzon when he was promoted to first associate concertmaster last summer.

As the third highest-ranking member of the first violin section, the associate concertmaster is seated in the outer seat of the second stand, behind the concertmaster and first associate concertmaster, and fills in for those positions as needed.

In a statement the violinist said, “I am honored to take on the role of associate concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Working alongside Andris Nelsons and my incredible colleagues is a true privilege, and I am excited to begin this new chapter at Tanglewood. I am grateful to have called Boston home for the past nine years, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community through extraordinary music making.”

Nelsons added, ““It gives the Boston Symphony Orchestra and me great pleasure to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sophie Wang on her promotion to the position of associate concertmaster. Sophie is a highly talented musician and an integral part of our string section since joining the BSO in 2022. Her new role commences this summer at Tanglewood, where Sophie previously studied as a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center under our former longtime concertmaster Malcolm Lowe. The BSO and I wish Sophie joy and success as she embraces this wonderful advancement!”

Wang has been featured as soloist with the New England Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, and Schwob School of Music Philharmonic, and will appear with the Boston Civic Symphony in November 2025. She has also served as senior assistant concertmaster of the South Carolina Philharmonic and assistant principal second violin of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

She was a Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center and has also participated in festivals such as the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, Taos School of Music, and Sarasota Music Festival.