Prof. William Lang
Interim Instructor of Trombone
Office: Catlett Music Center 213
Personal Website: williamlang.org
Loadbang Website: loadbangmusic.com
Originally from Long Island, Trombonist William Lang is an active performer and improviser in New York and Boston. The New York Times has called his playing “fiercely, virtuosic”, and he has been hailed for his “superb performance” by the Boston Globe, William is dedicated to the art of playing trombone and moving the art form forward while still honoring tradition. To date he has premiered around 1400 pieces involving trombone alongside numerous historic transcriptions from every era and works from the trombone canon.
He has performed solo recitals around the USA as well as Europe, with a special attention being paid to some ofNew York City's premiere concert venues, such as Bargemusic, the Dimenna Center, the Stone, and Spectrum, among many others. He has also appeared as a concerto soloist with the Janacek Philharmonia in an acclaimed performance of Iannis Xenakis' trombone concerto: Trookh, and with the Ostrava New Orchestra in both Prague and Ostrava, with the Fredonia Wind Ensemble on a tour of New York State; the Brooklyn Community Orchestra, and the Broadway Bach Ensemble. He has been a featured guest soloist with the Brentano String Quartet, Talujon Percussion, Ekmeles, Ensemble Pi, Mivos String Quartet, and the Rhythm Method. He has also been a featured guest at the International Trombone Festival both as a soloist and chamber musician multiple times.
As a chamber musician William is a founding member of: loadbang, the groundbreaking ensemble consisting of Baritone Voice, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet, and Trombone, hailed as “inventive” by the New York Times and “cultivated” by the New Yorker. William is a member of the SEM Ensemble, Ostravska Banda, TILT Brass, the Argento Chamber Ensemble, So Wrong It's Right, and the Boston Microtonal Society’s premier ensemble: Notariotous, where he works alongside like minded composers and performers on the definition of pitch. He has also appeared as a guest artist with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Signal, Wet Ink, TACTUS, Ensemble Echappe, Sound Icon, and Talea. William also was a founding member of two now defunct groups, the Guidonian Hand, a trombone quartet hailed by the New York Times for their "expertly played, with meaty low brass textures" performance, and Occasional Noise, a trio of Trombone, Piano, and Percussion, which were active in commissioning original and exciting works for their instrumental combinations by many leading composers.
As a recording and commercial musician William has appeared on albums with such luminaries as David Byrne and St. Vincent (their album Love This Giant,) and Jonsi (from Sigur Ros,) on his solo album Go. You can also hear him on Bryce Dessner, Sufjan Stevens, and Nico Muhly’s collaboration Planetarium. He can also be heard on many classical releases, such as TILT Brass' debut recording, to TILT vol. 1 and as a recording soloist for John Cage's Ryoanji with the Avant Media Festival. He has also recorded commercial music for Philip Glass, the TV Show Lois & Clark, and also the soundtrack for a Matthew Barny film, the River Fundament. In addition to recording credits, William has been heard as the house trombonist for Rockefeller Center's Christmas Music Spectacular, featuring the Rockettes!, as well as on numerous on and off-Broadway shows.
Mr. Lang is also an accomplished Orchestral and Opera musician as well, appearing with many ensembles throughout New York, such as the American Ballet Theatre, the Orchestra Now!, Dicapo Opera, Musicra Sacra, the Little Orchestra Society, and the Manhattan Chamber Symphony. In addition he has played with the Orchestra of the SEM Ensemble, the Janacek Philharmonic, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and the Eroica Ensemble.
William has also performed in such venues as the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie’s Isaac Stern and Zankel Halls, le Poisson Rouge, Radio City Music Hall, the Winter Garden, St. Paul’s Church in Boston, St John the Divine’s in New York City, Paul Hall, Lincoln Center’s Rose Theatre, Issue Project Room, and St. Peter’s in New York City. As a curator alongside trumpeter Andrew Kozar, William founded and ran a weekly concert series, "Power Concerts", at Manhattan School of Music. Featuring guest performers every week and a dedication to new music, Will and Andy hosted 42 concerts, which built up a steady following and featured the premieres of over 50 new works during their tenure, and which continues to exist at Manhattan School of Music to this day.
William received his Masters Degree from Manhattan School of Music, and his Bachelors Degree from SUNY Fredonia. He is also a frequent teaching artist for the New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers program and has also given masterclasses and lectures at over 45 different Universities and Colleges throughout the United States.
William is the Interim Instructor of Trombone at the University of Oklahoma, and also on faculty at the Longy School of Music in Boston, where he teaches lessons in trombone and the nature of being a 21st century musician. He is also an artist both for Stephens Horns, who made his instrument, and Long Island Brass Co. which created his unique mouthpiece.
