A Rising Star in Contemporary Music
Ruyi Wang ’26 rises through talent, passion, performance.
Ruyi Wang, a member of the Class of 2026 at The John Cooper School, has been making waves in the world of contemporary music with her passion and dedication to the saxophone. Her musical journey began in the fourth grade, and since then, she has cultivated a deep connection with the instrument, embracing both its technical challenges and expressive potential.
This year marked a major milestone for Ruyi as she auditioned for the prestigious Woodlands Concert Band Solo Competition—a platform known for spotlighting the region's most talented young musicians. Her choice to perform a contemporary piece reflected her bold style and artistic maturity, capturing the judges’ attention with her dynamic interpretation and emotional range.
Ruyi's hard work paid off: she placed third overall in the competition. As one of the top three finalists, she has earned the honor of performing her selected concerto with the Woodlands Concert Band on May 29 at Klein Forest High School. This performance marks not only a celebration of her talent but also a glimpse into her promising future in music.
“Ruyi is the kind of student every director hopes to work with—focused, fearless, and full of heart,” said Tony Yarbrough, Director of Instrumental Music at The John Cooper School. “She brings a fresh voice to contemporary saxophone, and we’re incredibly proud of all she’s accomplished.”
As she continues to shape her musical voice, Ruyi Wang is a rising star in contemporary saxophone. Her journey reflects The John Cooper School’s commitment to fostering creativity, excellence, and personal growth through the arts.
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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