Pianist. educator. author.
CEO of Steven Ray Artists
Dr. Raymond (Ray) Wong is a pianist based in Manhattan, New York. He has been featured in International Pianists Magazine, The New York Times, The LA Times, The New Yorker Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Philly Inquirer, The Herald Tribune, Allegro Magazine, WQXR New York Classical Radio, NPR National Public Radio, The National Classical Music Radio of the Czech Republic, The Georgia Straight, CBC Canadian National Radio and Television, among others.
Recent performances include “WICKED in Concert”, and “One Voice” on PBS Television, The Ruth Bader Ginsberg Honors at The Library of Congress, fashion designer Josie Natori’s Fall/Winter20 Runway for New York Fashion Week, Arts Connection Gala, Musical Explorers at Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall, solo, chamber, and collaborative performances in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, The Kimmel Center and The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, Zankel Hall, and Isaac Stern Auditorium, The Van Cliburn Recital Hall in Bass Performance Hall, and performances with The American Pops Orchestra under the direction of maestro Luke Frazier, The Juilliard Orchestra under the batons of maestro Leonard Slatkin, Alan Gilbert, Jeffrey Milarsky, and Marin Alsop. He has had the privilege of working with many of his music idols such as Itzhak Perlman, Glenn Dicterow, Robert McDonald, The Juilliard String Quartet, and has played in masterclasses with numerous pedagogues including Jeremy Denk, Ivan Moravec, Christoph Eschenbach, Ann Schein, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Leslie Howard, Philippe Entremont, Jean-Yves Thibaudet among others.
As a soloist, Mr. Wong has been a laureate of The New York Concert Artists International Concerto Competition, New York Sinfionetta International Concerto Competition, The Bradshaw & Buono International Competition, Bechstein Piano Competition, the Mieczyslaw Munz Chopin Piano Competition, Festival of the Arts Canadian Music Competition, The Prague International Piano Festival Competition, Artists International Auditions and The Seattle International Piano Competition.
Dr. Wong has adjudicated on the jury of The Seattle International Piano Competition, The Pacific International Youth Society, and the Music Educators Association of New Jersey Piano Competitions. He is recipient of Steinway & Sons’s Outstanding Teacher Award, and has been a guest lecturer at The University of Southern California (USC), an official collaborative pianist of The Walter W Naumburg International Competition, and is currently the rehearsal pianist for The Orchestra of St. Luke's, and pianist for Musical Explorers, and The Orchestra Moves, as a part of Carnegie Hall’s Education Program, Link Up!
Raymond was an original member of The First National Tour of the Broadway musical, An American in Paris as a featured pianist performing the piano concertos of George Gershwin. Venues included Walt Disney Hall in Orlando, The Fox Theatre in Saint Louis, The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, The Kennedy Center in Washington, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and The Pantages Theaters in Los Angeles, among others. The current season includes The Lyric & Lyricists Series at The 92Y, Carnegie Hall Family Concert Series, Peter and the Wolf with John Lithgow, and the Carnegie Hall Gala performance of Candide under the baton of Rob Fisher. He has had the honor of performing solo recitals for Queen Sofia of Spain, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, and the late President George HW Bush, and the late First Lady, Barbara Bush.
Dr. Wong received his degrees in Solo Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from The Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School in New York, and an Education degree from Harvard University. Raymond's Doctoral dissertation, "The Celestial Circus" is based on a work composed for him and pianist Xiayin Wang by composer Richard Danielpour. Its world premiere was given by Wang/Wong at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, in March of 2014. He owes much to, and draws inspiration from his own teachers - Margo Garrett, Jonathan Feldman, Cameron Stowe, Jeffrey Cohen, Andre-Michel Schub, and Dr. Eugene Skovorodnikov.
Dr. Wong continues to "pay it forward" with a full performance and teaching schedule. He is currently CEO of Steven Ray Artists, a music production company. His new Children’s book, “Fluffy and Tempo visit Carnegie Hall,” with artist Khatia Esartia, is available here.
News
Steven Mann and Ray Wong have co-founded Steven Ray Artists, a company that works with supplying musicians, singers, and dancers to event planners for luxury events in NYC, The Hamptons, and Los Angeles. Please visit www.StevenRayArtists.com for more information.
Created by Khatia Esartia and Dr. Ray Wong, 'Fluffy and Tempo visit Carnegie Hall' is an art book for children. The book follows Fluffy and her sidekick Tempo in their musical adventures inside Carnegie Hall. This children's book accompanies the colorful and humorous musical suite of Camille Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals." Available HERE
The new PBS series One Voice: The Songs We Share, featuring the American Pops Orchestra with Steven & Ray!
Reviews
"A gorgeous, sumptuous, celebration of birth and rejoice!"
WBGH News
"An American in Paris shimmers with a kind of magic..."
The Boston Globe
"...in a word, spectacular. From his commanding opening to the riotously jaunty ending, Mr Wong dominated the concerto with forceful sonority and technique to burn.”
The Epoch Times
"....attention to detail and artistry...electrifying performance of the ‘you had to hear it to believe’ nature."
Virginia Gazette
"Considerable youthful fire and moments of real artistry."
New York Concert Review
"Pure elegance and magic on stage.”
Birgit Matzerath Concert Review
I came to Ray as a shy student - I had played piano as a child, but had forgotten most of it. From our first lesson, Ray had me playing, and with gentle but persistent instruction, we regained the fundamentals and very quickly moved on to my beloved classical pieces. Ray is not only one of the most gifted performers I have ever heard, but he is a remarkable teacher, full of patience and intuition. He is able to individualize the student so that he finds your unique qualities - as well as working on what needs to be achieved to grow skillfully. His method is goal driven, so I never lost hope that I would soon be playing the way I truly wanted. Ray is a rare combination of personal brilliance, pure talent, a vast commitment to his students and a sheer love and respect of music which he communicates and shares abundantly. Working with Ray is a deep and abiding pleasure, a weekly joy - and gift to myself.
Janine di Giovanni, Author, Journalist and Senior Fellow, Yale Jackson Institute of Global Affairs
We very much appreciate Ray’s energy and passion, and the meticulous attention bestowed upon the varied, subtle and material differences, nuances and intangibles that matter significantly in music, and life.
Peter DeSorcy
Ray Wong is a brilliantly inspiring piano teacher. He is a supremely accomplished musician who has the gift of transmitting his deep knowledge and love of music to his students. He is a sensitive, patient and encouraging teacher with whom it is a joy to take lessons.
With Ray as my teacher, my playing has improved immeasurably. He is a truly gifted teacher. I cannot recommend him too highly.
Gwen Edelman, author
Saying we are grateful for finding Raymond for my son as a piano teacher is an understatement. He is one of the most generous and gifted teachers, and he challenges him exactly the right amount. Ray’s ability to individualize his lessons to accommodate the learning styles of each of his students is magical. My son leaves each lesson feeling accomplished, motivated, inspired and happier than when he walked in.
Allie Davis
"Ray's teaching is methodical and yet interesting and fun. His lessons are intellectually engaging. He weaves music theory and history into his lessons. He emphasizes good techniques and habits, as well as musicality. I can't recommend him enough as a piano teacher for both kids and adults."
Y.L.
"Ray is an exceptional piano teacher and an amazing human being. Ray has helped my daughter flourish as a budding pianist by building her confidence, pushing her ever so little and helping her develop her own personal touch in musical storytelling. Ray also has an amazing way of teaching piano technique, making it fun and challenging, and never to be compromised in favor of playing. Ray is the complete package - highly recommended!!"
Banasree Ghosh
"Before meeting Ray, I could barely read or understand even the most basic music concepts. Now, a year later, I have improved both my piano technique and my understanding of music. I could not be more pleased with what I have gained from being Ray's student."
Nayla Boorady
"My daughter's playing has developed dramatically. Her control of the sound and interpretation has grown daily. She no longer just plays the notes - she now plays music. She has grown in confidence, artistry and technical mastery since studying with Ray."
Carol Blanco
"Dr. Wong transformed our unruly 7 year old into an elegant piano player. He's demanding but does a beautiful job of making learning to play fun and enjoyable."
Sarina Ogden