UNLV’s School of Music has been around since 1954, and over the years it’s attracted musicians from around the world.
Artists like Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma have all performed at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Concert Hall and nearby concert halls.
Now they’re introducing Frank Huang.
He’s a New York Philharmonic concertmaster who begins a three-year stint at UNLV as artist-in-residence with a performance Wednesday night. As a renowned violinist, he’ll be performing alongside UNLV staff and faculty.
He said starting violin was difficult, “but I always wanted to be on stage."
Whenever there was an opportunity for performance, that's when I would see the potential of how fun a musician's life could be.
He’s first chair violinist of the New York Philharmonic, but he saw the gig at UNLV as an opportunity to teach new students and faculty. He hoped his family could to with him to Las Vegas, but he said having time to connect with those at the university is a great experience.
“I think most of [the philharmonic] were quite jealous that I was coming here and you know, having an opportunity to, to work with the with the professors and the students here,” he said.
He’s mostly teaching while he’s here: solo playing, chamber music, quartets.
Nancy Usher, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said she feels privileged to play with Huang and her colleagues. “It’s a really special experience.”
“It's been an inspiration for me and for all of us to work with Frank, I think it will be a transformative experience with our staff for our students. I think I also want to say Frank has a generosity of spirit,” she said.
The first performance is Wednesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rando-Grillot Recital Hall of the Beam Music Center, and is free and open to the public.
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Nancy Uscher, dean, UNLV College of Fine Arts; Frank Huang, concertmaster, New York Philharmonic
