Pacific Symphony plays Dvorak & Rachmaninoff with Moon Doh, cond.; Angel Wang, piano

“Wang’s technical brilliance and imaginative tonal application captivated my attention and thrilled the audience.” - Gramophone

FEATURED ARTISTS

Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra

Moon Doh, conductor

Angel Wang, piano

PROGRAM

DVORÁK: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88

RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

MOON DOH

Moon Doh begins his tenure as Music Director of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra in the 2025–26 season. Since 2021, he has served as Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he has led a wide range of programs—from sold-out concerts with Sting and Laufey to educational and community-driven events. A recipient of the Takaya Urakawa Foundation Grant, Moon is known for his dynamic musicianship and inclusive approach to programming. A passionate advocate for community engagement, Moon has brought Beethoven’s string quartets to Pittsburgh public libraries, hosted “Discovery and Drinks” events in local breweries, and conducted children’s concerts in venues like the MuseumLab, partnering with author Mo Willems. Prior to his work in Pittsburgh, Moon was Artistic Director and Conductor of the Flora Symphony Orchestra in Cologne, Germany. He launched the ensemble’s first livestream series, expanded subscription concerts, and collaborated closely with local educators to foster new audiences. Born in South Korea and raised across the Philippines, Russia, and the United States, Moon began his musical journey on cello and piano at age nine. He has since conducted youth ensembles across Europe—including the All-State Orchestra of Hessen, Tonhalle Düsseldorf’s Under-16 Orchestra, and the Youth Orchestra of Essen—and remains active in mentoring young musicians throughout the Pittsburgh region. Beyond the concert hall, Moon is committed to social impact. While studying at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a B.A. in International Relations and Economics, he worked with asylum seekers in Hungary, underprivileged children in Bangladesh, and incarcerated individuals in Baltimore. He recently served on the board of Violence Prevention Network USA. Moon has appeared with many orchestras across Europe and the U.S., including the WDR Funkhausorchester and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, among others. He holds degrees in composition from Sahmyook University and orchestral conducting from the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf, with further studies at the Accademia Chigiana and Bartók Festival. His mentors include Manfred Honeck, Rüdiger Bohn, and Peter Eötvös.

ANGEL WANG

Praised for his expressive depth, commanding technique, and artistic individuality, Angel Stanislav Wang has quickly drawn international attention as a rare and compelling new voice. His major accolades include the Silver Medal at the 17th International Tchaikovsky Competition, becoming the youngest finalist at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and winning First Prize at the International Rachmaninoff Piano Competition. At just 23, he has already earned over 35 international awards.

A captivating performer with a growing global following, Angel has performed at world-renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein, Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.  Highlights of his recent and upcoming concerto appearances include the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Russian National Orchestra for its 35th Anniversary concert in Moscow, a sold-out performance of the Britten Piano Concerto with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Sebastian Weigle and Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico City and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Robert Spano and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

His 26-27 recital tour includes concerts for major series in the United States, including the Aspen Music Festival, Performing Arts Houston, La Jolla Music Society, The Soraya at California State University Northridge, Steinway Society – Bay Area, The Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concerts in Fresno, Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Grand Piano Series at Artis-Naples and the American Liszt Society Festival at the Lied Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Angel has also appeared at leading international festivals such as the Rheingau Musik Festival, Piano Loop Festival, Rafael Orozco Piano Festival, and the Shostakovich International Music Festival, earning acclaim for performances that combine poetic sensitivity with technical brilliance.

Born in Los Angeles in 2003, Angel began piano at five under his mother’s guidance. He is currently completing his studies at the Moscow Conservatory under Professor Natalia Trull. Beginning in September 2026, he will also pursue an Artist Diploma at the Juilliard School in New York, studying with Emanuel Ax and Yoheved Kaplinsky. Angel is a Steinway Artist.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY

Pacific Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the past 50 years and has earned national recognition for its adventurous programming, community engagement, and artistic growth. Founded in 1978, the Symphony has been led for 35 years by Music Director Carl St. Clair, one of the longest-serving music directors of a major American orchestra. In 2024, Alexander Shelley was named Artistic and Music Director Designate for the 2025–26 season and will begin his full-time tenure in the 2026–27 season, marking a bold new chapter in the Symphony’s artistic evolution.

With a purpose to lift the human spirit through the power of music, the Symphony is a pillar of the cultural landscape of Southern California, enriching lives and bringing communities together through creative and diverse programming. As the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Symphony presents more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.