Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month: Meet Property Manager Zhensheng Wang 

It may come as a surprise to some, but the Property Manager at Staten Island’s Todt Hill Houses had a former career as a classical Chinese music performer and conductor.  

In his original home of Shanghai, China, Zhensheng Wang performed on the erhu, a two-string bowed instrument also called the “Chinese violin,” and served as the principal music conductor for a Chinese opera troupe dedicated to the 600-year-old Kunqu art form. After emigrating to New York City in 1993, Mr. Wang rose to become the artistic director of the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York, the oldest and largest Chinese music orchestra in the U.S.  

While he no longer performs professionally, Mr. Wang has continued to rely on his musical connections to help promote Chinese culture as a member of the Chinese-American Association (CAA) at NYCHA. He has recommended fellow musicians to perform traditional Chinese music at CAA functions throughout the year, as well as the Family Partnerships Department’s Lunar New Year celebrations at the LaGuardia Houses Addition Senior Center.        

Mr. Wang, a 20-year employee who has worked as Property Manager at Todt Hill Houses since December, is proud to be among the NYCHA community members whose service and contributions are celebrated during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May.  

“The United States is a melting pot, and I think that’s what makes it interesting,” he said of the AAPI Month commemorations. “Different people come here and have the opportunity to grow and achieve their potential. I think that this is really what the United States is all about.” 

A violinist since the age of 10, Mr. Wang graduated from the Jiangsu Drama School in China and continued pursuing his passion for classical Chinese music through performances with the the Jiangsu Province opera troupe. His first opportunity to visit the U.S. came as part of a cultural exchange program, and he soon decided to build a new life in his adopted country, where he learned to speak English and later joined the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York. 

“That was an exciting time,” he recalled of his move to New York. “I thought this was a great place for opportunities. This country is amazing – and I’ve really liked living here very much.” 

Throughout his time as a musician and conductor in Shanghai and New York, Mr. Wang traveled to major cities around the world, performing at famed venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall as well as museums and prestigious universities. He even worked with renowned musicians such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma to assist with recordings for the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon movie soundtrack.  

When he retired as a professional musician, Mr. Wang focused on higher education, graduating from Baruch College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He previously served as an NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) case worker for welfare services before joining NYCHA in 2006 as a Housing Assistant in the Leased Housing Department. Mr. Wang later worked with the Management Services Department team and most recently was an Assistant Property Manager at Manhattan’s Douglass Houses until his promotion to Todt Hill Property Manager.  

At Todt Hill Houses, which is undergoing property-wide renovations as part of the Comprehensive Modernization (Comp Mod) program, Mr. Wang is responsible for managing daily operations. A key part of the role, he noted, is developing strong relationships with both staff and residents, while also ensuring resident needs are addressed throughout the modernization effort.  

“To me, the most important thing is to communicate with the stakeholders to make sure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible,” he said.  

Beyond his duties as Property Manager, Mr. Wang has been an active member of NYCHA’s Chinese-American employee association, where he has found a network of colleagues with similar backgrounds and enjoyed friendships and camaraderie (as well as a supportive environment to celebrate their shared heritage).      

“I think it brings people together and gives us a sense of home,” he described. “We help each other, and it makes the workplace feel not only like a workplace but something more. I’ve had a chance to promote Chinese culture, which has been very meaningful.”

Featured photo caption: Zhensheng Wang, who began playing the erhu (Chinese violin) at age 10, performed as a musician and conductor in major cities and venues around the world.