South Shore Conservatory Concerto Competition Named For Beloved Teacher, Mentor

South Shore Conservatory (SSC) announces that, thanks to a generous donation from The Herzfelder Family of Westwood and Cohasset, its annual concerto competition has been named the HuiMin Wang Youth Concerto Competition.

SSC's Concerto Competition, now in its 31st year, is one of the Conservatory's most celebrated competitions. Overall winners of the competition historically perform their winning concerto with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra at its family concert in March.

During her 20 years at SSC, piano instructor HuiMin Wang has been an advocate for students challenging themselves through competition. Her students continuously representing SSC in performances and events are frequently winners at SSC's Concerto Competition. In fact, Wang's daughter Ina was named overall winner in 2016, and performed with The Phil. Many have performed as soloists with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, and SSC's own Evenings Under the Stars Festival Orchestra. Her students have won awards at Massachusetts Music Teachers Association's Bay State Contest, Steinway Society Piano Competition, Russian Music Competition, and have performed in such prestigious venues as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

"Personally, as a student I had never had any experience performing with an orchestra. Therefore, I realize how amazing this opportunity can be for our SSC students," said Wang. "Beyond the possibility of performing with an orchestra, just by preparing and participating, this experience changes and uplifts the students' musical studies and their lives, over and over again."

In addition to her teaching, Wang has furthered the mission of SSC on an administrative level as well. In her time at SSC she has served as Piano Department Chair, Dean of Students, and Advisor to the President. She has led and pioneered programs such as the Concerto Competition, Piano Solo Competition, Workshop and Recital Series and Summer Chamber Academy.

In 2010, Wang, who is a Norwell resident, was recognized with an award for her outstanding service to the Conservatory, and in 2013 she received the "Music Is...Award" for exceptional service to SSC.

Wang's encouragement, talent, and wit have not only helped her students achieve excellence, but have cultivated lifelong friendships with families she's encountered throughout her teaching career. Among those grateful families are the Herzfelders.

"HuiMin was an extraordinary piano teacher, but she provided so much more than lessons. She helped ignite passion for the arts and established a long-lasting trust and friendship," said Bruce Herzfelder, who saw his daughter Julia and son Desmond thrive while students in Wang's studio.

"I am truly honored by this gift from the Herzfelder Family, and I am enormously touched. They are very special students. Eighteen years ago, I started teaching Bruce as an adult student, and over time was honored to teach his children Julia and Desmond. Both of them have won top prizes at the Concerto Competition." said Wang. "I am grateful to have had their trust in me in guiding their piano path. Julia is now studying at Harvard, and Desmond is a senior at Noble and Greenough School."

The Herzfelder Family gift, which supports the capital efforts of SSC's Making Music Changing Lives campaign, also honors the 50th anniversary of the community arts school, which takes place in 2020.

The enrollment period for South Shore Conservatory students to sign up for the 2019 HuiMin Wang Youth Concerto Competition starts October 22. To learn more about the competition, or to discover SSC's giving opportunities, visit sscmusic.org.

About South Shore Conservatory

South Shore Conservatory (SSC) has been providing access to and enriching the lives of South Shore residents through music and the arts for nearly 50 years. Recognized as a national model for arts education by the National Guild for Community Arts Education, SSC is the largest not-for-profit, community school for the arts in Massachusetts, serving over 4,000 students of all ages and abilities at its two beautiful campuses and in partnership with schools, and social service and community agencies throughout the South Shore.

Students participate in more than 50 diverse programs in music, dance and drama, with performance playing an important role in overall education. With more than 100 exceptional musicians on faculty, SSC offers more than 120 professionally-produced concerts annually. Through innovative partnerships, SSC's Creative Arts Therapies department supports the mental, emotional, and physical health of some of our community's underserved members, and the ImagineARTS program strengthens pre-reading skills for young learners in Brockton Schools through integrated music and dramatic play.

SSC's campuses are located at One Conservatory Drive, Hingham, 781-749-7565, 64 St. George Street, Duxbury, 781-934-2731, and 135 Webster Street, Hanover, 781-421-6162. SSC programs are supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information call us, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram or visit www.sscmusic.org.

In keeping with SSC's inclusive mission to provide access to quality education in the arts for all, the Conservatory offers programs for all segments of the population to enjoy, regardless of age, ability, geography, and financial means. Furthermore, South Shore Conservatory admits students and families of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.