News Releases

(STILLWATER, Okla.) – Eleven students from Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University have been selected to participate in a unique residency mentorship program with the New York Philharmonic as a part of The McKnight Center and New York Philharmonic partnership. The partnership, created by the McKnight Center, will allow the selected students to travel to New York City March 14-18, 2023, to receive exclusive one-on-one coaching and mentorship from accomplished musicians of the New York Philharmonic.

The students attending this mentorship opportunity are among the brightest and most talented in their respective programs. They are from Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, and China, and will be accompanied by Dr. Thomas Lanners, Greenwood School of Music professor and Darin Williams, The McKnight Center's Director of Education and Community Engagement, who is traveling as a program liaison.

The New York Philharmonic mentors providing guidance and instruction to the students are Cong Wu, Assistant Principal Viola; Nathan Vickery, cello; Liang Wang, Principal Oboe. The students will have the chance to learn from these exceptional musicians and gain valuable insights into the world of professional orchestral performance.

The partnership between The McKnight Center and the New York Philharmonic is an extraordinary opportunity for the students to gain mentorship from world-class musicians and enhanced learning experiences that they would not have access to at other universities. This aligns with The McKnight Center’s mission of inspiring and transforming lives through artistic excellence, shared creative experiences, and impactful learning opportunities.

"We've had a strong relationship with the New York Philharmonic since they performed the inaugural concerts when The McKnight Center opened in 2019," said Mark Blakeman, the Marilynn and Carl Thoma Executive Director of The McKnight Center. "When we created this multi-year partnership we knew how special it would be to include an opportunity for students to travel to New York and build upon this relationship to have true mentors in the orchestra field."

Blakeman added, "We believe that investing in the next generation of musicians is crucial for the future of the performing arts as a whole. We're proud to play a part in enhancing and elevating their educational experience at OSU."

"This experience goes far beyond traditional classroom learning and empowers students to develop a network of expert advisors,” said Dr. Brant Adams, Interim Director of Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music. “Building a professional relationship with musicians of this caliber is truly a rare opportunity for these students."

When asked about the opportunity, horn player Hope Talton said, “I am so excited for my peers and I to learn more at a personal level from the New York Philharmonic. Seeing more of how they operate on a day-to-day basis will be so informative for our futures.”

Ethan Do, a trombone player and composer originally from Edmond, Okla., added, “I am very grateful for such a unique opportunity. It is rare for the average student to have the opportunity to work so closely with our heroes. I hope to evolve my understanding and love for music during this residency.”

In addition to this incredible opportunity, the students will also attend rehearsals and performances by the New York Philharmonic, a performance by the Metropolitan Opera, visit museums, and take a comprehensive tour of Lincoln Center.

The partnership between The McKnight Center and the New York Philharmonic is part of a three-year residency program. The program, which includes the aforementioned mentorship trip, also encompasses bringing the renowned orchestra to Stillwater on a regular basis. In addition to these performances, it provides valuable educational opportunities for Oklahoma State University Greenwood School of Music and Stillwater Public Schools students. Each year, the residency includes a gala event, public performances, a youth education concert and a multitude of masterclasses where students can interact with some of the world's greatest musicians.

For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Lindsey Wichern at lindsey@six-pr.com or 918-949-8186.