The former Hong Kong Philharmonic Concertmaster Wang Jing has gone public on Chinese social media about his dismissal last week.
His text is translated from the Chinese.
To all my fans, friends, and the public who care about me:
Hello everyone, this is Wang Jing. In the past few days, the public has learned through unofficial channels about the change in my position as principal of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Some rumors and misunderstandings have arisen. After careful consideration, I have decided to issue this statement personally.
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has been one of the most important places in my artistic life for the past thirteen years. I have spent many precious stage moments here, and have also experienced many important stages of the orchestra with my colleagues, conductors, and audiences.
Whatever happened today, I remain grateful for this experience. But precisely because I cherish this experience, I cannot allow inaccurate information to continue circulating.
Regarding the change in position: I must solemnly clarify that I did not voluntarily resign from the position of chief; my departure is not due to issues such as professional ability, performance, professional ethics, or so-called dereliction of duty in part-time work, as rumored by the outside world.
For the past thirteen years, I have always strived to fulfill my principal duties to the highest standards, and have consistently received recognition and support from many world-class conductors and orchestra colleagues.
Recently, I was informed by the orchestra’s management of the termination of my principal position. Prior to this, I had not received any formal negative evaluation regarding my professional competence or work performance, nor had I experienced sufficient and substantive communication. Initially, I did not receive a clear written explanation for this decision; the explanation I was later given was that there was a “disagreement in philosophy or direction” between me and the new music director.
I understand that any arts institution enters a new phase. Every professional musician who has served the orchestra for a long time deserves communication and handling based on facts, professionalism, and basic respect. My decision to speak out is not to attack any individual, nor to negate the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has been, is, and will continue to be a name I cherish deeply. I thank the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, my colleagues with whom I have fought alongside, and the audience who have supported us over the years.
However, I also have a responsibility to protect my professional reputation. I cannot accept my departure being misunderstood as a voluntary resignation, incompetence, or professional misconduct. For a musician, reputation is not an accessory, but a life record accumulated little by little through years of performances, rehearsals, collaborations, and works. In the future, I will definitely take the opportunity to give a complete review of these thirteen years and my musical journey. In the future, I will continue to focus on music and new artistic projects. Thank you to all my friends who care, understand, and support me. Your kindness is very important to me amidst the storms. No matter where I am, my love and commitment to music will not change.
The opinions expressed in this statement are solely those of the individual and do not represent the position of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.