The China NCPA Orchestra, resident ensemble of Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, has announced the appointment of Xian Zhang as its Principal Guest Conductor, beginning with the 2025–26 season. The orchestra continues under the leadership of Lü Jia as Music Director.
The appointment deepens Zhang’s relationship with the NCPA, where she first appeared in 2015, and formalises a collaboration that has grown steadily over the past decade.
Zhang is currently in her tenth season as Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony and took up the same position with the Seattle Symphony in September 2025. Between 2009 and 2016 she led the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, which later named her Conductor Emeritus. She has also held principal guest positions with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
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