Houston Symphony violinist Frank Huang named to prestigious position with New York Philharmonic

Violinist Frank Huang will lead the Houston Symphony in a concert at Discovery Green. Violinist Frank Huang will lead the Houston Symphony in a concert at Discovery Green. Photo: Courtesy Photo Photo: Courtesy Photo Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Houston Symphony violinist Frank Huang named to prestigious position with New York Philharmonic 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Frank Huang, the current concertmaster of the Houston Symphony, has been appointed concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, beginning in September.

"I'm deeply humbled to have won the audition for the role of concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic. Being part of the Houston Symphony during the [ast five years has been an incredible experience and I am grateful to my exceptional colleagues in the orchestra and the staff for their tireless dedication. There is so much excitement and energy in this great orchestra that I look forward to continuing this momentum next year when I'm back in Houston for part of next season," Huang said.

In 2014, Huang was invited to try out for the first-chair violin position - also known as concertmaster –-with the New York Philharmonic. He spent a week in New York last fall playing with the philharmonic, including a mountain of an orchestral piece, Anton Bruckner's 90-minute Symphony No. 8.

"I knew I had to do it," Huang told the Chronicle last year. "It's not something that comes around every day."

Huang, 36, was born in China and moved to Houston when he was he was 7. He studied violin with Fredell Lack at the University of Houston, earned a bachelor of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2002 and subsequently attended the Julliard School in New York City. He has performed on television, radio and with orchestras throughout the world. He also serves on the faculties of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and the University of Houston.

As concertmaster in Houston, Huang played a primary role in establishing espirit de corps among the symphony's musicians.

"We're very excited that the New York Philharmonic has named Frank Huang as their new concertmaster and congratulate Frank on this major accomplishment," said Mark C. Hanson, executive director and CEO of the Houston Symphony, in a statement.

At the New York Philharmonic, Huang will take the place of Glenn Dicterow, who stepped down from the concertmaster position at the end of the 2013-4 season after 34 seasons.