Shirley Wang Ling

Shirley Wang Ling Shirley Wang Ling, 82, of Merion Station, a Chinese-American concert pianist and master piano teacher, died at home on Friday, July 8th, from complications of pancreatic cancer. Mrs. Ling lived the true American Dream. She was born in the Liaoning province and raised in Shanghai, China during the short-lived Republican era--the tumultuous time following the fall of the Last Emperor of China. Member of a successful shipbuilding family, she was educated at St. Mary's, an Episcopalian school where she learned fluent English. It was there that she first encountered the piano in her kindergarten class. After seeing the instrument for the first time, the young Shirley told her parents she wanted to devote her life to the piano, an announcement that proved prescient. Following World War II, the Communists took control of China. Those with wealth and education became enemies of the state. Fearing what was to come, her parents arranged to smuggle her out of the country. At age 20, she escaped the country with her best friend, carrying nothing but a wicker picnic basket so as to not attract attention. Shirley and her best friend were transported by a "pirate", a smuggler who owed a favor to her friend's father, a doctor who had professionally cared for the pirate. Eventually she and her friend reached the safety of the United States. She would never return to China. Her best friend, Julia Lin, would also have great success in America raising her daughter Maya, who would go on to become a world-renowned architect, and the designer of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Thanks to the kindness of many Americans, Shirley was able to resume her education, initially at Flora McDonald College in North Carolina, and then the prestigious Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where she received her music degree, graduating first in her class. Subsequently she studied with Rudolf Ganz, the noted conductor, and Adele Marcus at the Julliard School in New York City. While in Baltimore, Shirley met her future husband, Gilbert Ling, another Chinese native who also came to the U.S. for graduate studies in Physiology and Biology. Awarded the prestigious Guggenheim fellowship to study piano in Europe, she chose instead to stay in the U.S., and in 1955 became mother to her son, Mark, followed by siblings Tim and Eva. The family moved to Philadelphia in 1955, where Shirley resided for the remainder of her life. While raising her family, she also built her career as a pianist, concertizing across the country. A high point of her career was a concert given at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The New York Times noted that "She displayed a wonderful capacity to cultivate patiently her gift for intimately lyrical expression." Along with her concert career, she also became a highly regarded teacher. Over the years she taught hundreds of students, from beginners to very advanced students. Many were "lifers," students who studied with her from elementary school through high school education. She particularly prided herself on a rigorous but supportive teaching philosophy, setting high expectations for her students, but lovingly coaching them toward achievement. She believed that the intellectual rigor of studying piano yielded dividends in all other academic disciplines. A student of hers wrote "Truly, there are no words adequate to express our appreciation for your brilliance, patience, and kindness." The parent of another student asked "How do you ever say thank you to someone who has done so much for someone you love?" Mrs. Ling was a long-standing member of the Main Line Music Study Club. Founded in 1922, this was a forum for professional and serious amateur musicians to study music and perform before a critical audience. From the time she joined in 1966, she performed numerous times and was an active participant in the educational forums. Beyond her music, Mrs. Ling was also deeply involved in her community. A member of the Main Line Unitarian Church for over 50 years, she was an active member of the Women's Alliance and was Music Director for the Church for many years. Later, she was a devoted participant in the Small Group Ministry. She also traveled extensively through Europe with her husband, a frequent lecturer and guest professor of biophysics. Mrs. Ling was preceded in death by her son, Tim, formerly President of Unocal Corporation. She is survived by her husband, Dr.Gilbert Ling, brother Ben Wang of Los Angeles, son Dr. Mark Ling, daughter Eva Monahan, and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 31st, at the Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 South Valley Forge Rd. Devon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org. (610)649-0243