Visiting Professor of Oboe, The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao  

Professor of Oboe and Doctoral Supervisor, Central Conservatory of Music  

China’s First Doctoral Supervisor in Oboe

Originally from Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Wei Weidong began his musical journey learning piano with his father and started playing the oboe at age 12 under the esteemed Professor Bai Yu. He entered the Central Conservatory of Music in 1989, where he served as principal oboist for the National Youth Orchestra of China. After graduating in 1994, he taught at the affiliated middle school before joining the China National Symphony Orchestra in 2000. In 2002, Wei pursued a master’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in England, studying under Jonathan Small and Douglas Boyd. He achieved both a master's degree and the highest performance diploma in 2003, becoming the only Chinese oboist at the time to hold two advanced diplomas from Europe. During his tenure in the UK, Wei was mentored by Hansjörg Schellenberger, the former principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic, and earned recognition as the finest oboist by the Manchester Evening News. 

Upon his return to China, Wei held a solo concert at the Central Conservatory of Music and continued his teaching career in the oboe department. He has held the position of associate principal oboist of the National Symphony Orchestra and authored the oboe manual "Introduction and Advancement in Oboe" published by the People’s Music Publishing House in 2005. Wei has been a judge at numerous national and international woodwind competitions and has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Seiji Ozawa and Zubin Mehta. He organized the International Oboe Festival at the Central Conservatory of Music in 2011, 2014, and 2017 and performed at the 52nd annual meeting of the International Oboe Society in 2023, playing a concerto by Hungarian composer Hidas. Currently, he is the brand ambassador for Gebrüder Mönnig.

Throughout his teaching career, Wei Weidong has been recognized as an Advanced Educator and Outstanding Mentor for Top Innovative Talent at the Central Conservatory of Music. His students have excelled, winning numerous awards in international oboe competitions. Additionally, he has been invited to teach master classes and perform solo concerts at prestigious music institutions such as the Verdi Music Conservatory in Italy, Royal Danish Academy of Music in Denmark, Stuttgart Music Academy in Germany, and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore.