Zuohuang Chen
About
Maestro Chen Zuohuang started his early piano study at the Middle School Attached to Central Conservatory in Beijing, and later graduated from the Conservatory's Conducting Department. At the recommendation of Maestro Seiji Ozawa, Chen went to the United States to study at the Tanglewood Music Center and at the School of Music, University of Michigan. He has the honor the first person ever to have received the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan in 1985, as well as becoming the first Doctor of Musical Arts of P. R. China.
1987, Maestro Chen assumed the position of conductor of the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China and let it on a historic tour covering 24 cities in the United States, including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles. He also led more than a dozen of orchestral tour in Europe, America and Asia with the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China, the China National Symphony Orchestra, the China Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra of S. korea, and the Hamburg Youth Orchestra.
Since 1980s, Maestro Chen has been the conductor of the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China; Music Director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Maestro Chen was also the founding Artistic Director of the China National Symphony Orchestra. He was also the Music Director of UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra in Mexico City, Artistic Director of Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director of Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Artistic Director of Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, and chief conductor of National Centre of the Performing Arts Orchestra in Beijing.
Maestro Chen is a much sought-after musician and has been invited to be guest conductor several dozens orchestras around the world. He also has been invited as the jury member of international musical competitions. Maestro Chen's art of conducting has won praises form audience and musicians wherever he works. Aiming at development and enhancement of symphony in China, Maestro Chen is also Artistic Director of Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. The persistent enthusiasm to introducing and promoting Chinese symphonic music and young musical talents to the world made him a respected and welcome musical figure worldwide.
Maestro Chen is also the Artistic Director (Music) of China's National Centre for the Performing Arts. Since 2010 Maestro Chen has been Principal Conductor of China NCPA Orchestra.