Melissa Wang

Melissa Wang is a composer, educator, and percussionist. She received the Bachelor of Music with emphases in Percussion Performance and Instrumental Education at Northern Illinois University (NIU), under the direction of Dr. Gregory Beyer and Mr. Ben Wahlund. She received the Associate in Fine Arts in Music at College of DuPage (COD) under the direction of Mr. Ben Wahlund, Dr. Tom Tallman, Mr. Lee Kesselman, and Dr. Kenneth Paoli. 

Melissa currently studies at the University of Washington (UW), studying Percussion Performance with the interest in theatrical percussion, as well as Composition with the interest in incorporating unconventional choreographies in existing genres such as choreography in the Wind Band repertoire. Her accomplishments include receiving the Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity Grant for her performance web series, “Percussion Works by Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+", receiving the 2022 Maude Nicholson Dean's Award for outstanding artistry, contributions, and academic achievement in Northern Illinois University School of Music, and receiving first place in the 2019 Jack Stone Award for New Music with her winning piece "Downright Up and Left" performed by Line Upon Line Percussion Ensemble. Additionally, she performed with Inverted Space in the 2023 Journey to the Black Lodge Tour and performed in the 2017 Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps.