Biography

Described by The San Diego Union Tribune as a “youngster [showing] astonishing musical maturity,” Erica Wang is a 16 year old flutist from San Diego, California. Erica is the youngest of four flutists selected to play in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) in 2022, where she will be performing Mahler’s Fifth Symphony as the principal flutist and touring Europe under the direction of Daniel Harding.

At age 14, Erica was the 2nd place winner of the National Flute Association’s High School Soloist Competition and the recipient of the Deveau Scholarship for Best Performance of Commissioned Work. In 2022, she performed Liebermann’s Flute Concerto as a soloist alongside the San Diego Youth Symphony as a winner of their concerto competition. She has won first place in numerous competitions, including the Goodlin Scholarship Competition, Music Scholarship Council Instrumental Scholarship, the Southeast Michigan Flute Association High School Competition, and the San Diego Flute Guild Youth Artist Competitions. Other awards include prizes in the National YoungArts Foundation, Musical Merit Foundation Scholarship, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and the Linda Chesis Flute Retreat Young Artist Competition.

Erica has performed as the principal flutist of National Youth Orchestra 2, the San Diego Youth Symphony, the Idyllwild Summer Symphony Orchestra, the California All-Southern Wind Symphony, as well as her school ensembles. She has been invited to several flute workshops including Beyond the Masterclass, the Linda Chesis Flute Retreat, and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival, where she won a scholarship to gain instruction from world-renowned musicians such as Emmanuel Pahud and Julien Beaudiment. In the past, she has also performed in masterclasses with Jim Walker, Denis Bouriakov, Jennifer Gunn, Demarre McGill, Walter Auer, and Benjamin Smolen.

Outside of performing, Erica shares her love for music through leading the Carmel Valley Summer Symphony (CVSS), a student-run non-profit organization providing free and accessible music education for students across San Diego. With 300+ student enrollment, CVSS has helped raise over $5000 for local school music programs over the past few years. She is also a member of the Do Re Mi Project, where she teaches free flute lessons to students online.

Erica currently studies with Pam Vliek Martchev and Linda Chesis, and is finishing her high school studies at Canyon Crest Academy. Outside of flute, Erica is also a pianist, violinist, and figure skater. She is a member of Team Del Sol, a nationally competitive synchronized figure skating team. She also enjoys hiking, travel, and photography.

2022 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), Principal Flute
2022 Domaine Forget de Charlevoix International Music and Dance Academy, Woodwind Session
2022 Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association, High School Wind Ensemble, Principal Flute
2021-2022 San Diego Youth Symphony Ovation Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Principal Flute
2021-2022 Canyon Crest Academy Wind Ensemble, Principal Flute
2021 National Youth Orchestra 2
2020 California All-State High School Wind Symphony
2019 Idyllwild Arts Summer Symphony Orchestra Intensive
2019 Carmel Valley Summer Symphony Orchestra, Principal Flute
2017-2019 Carmel Valley Middle School Wind Ensemble, Principal Flute
2018-2019 San Dieguito Union High School District Honor Band, Principal Flute
2018 Jim Walker’s Beyond the Masterclass, Performer
2017 San Diego Flute Guild Palomar Mountain Flute Retreat