An orchestra with a rapidly growing reputation, the Guiyang Symphony has broken new ground in China since its establishment in 2009. As the first and only privately funded and endowed symphony orchestra, it is a pioneer and forerunner in changing the classical music landscape of China. Furthermore, considering the current global situation, it may be regarded as a most valuable anomaly.
You can listen to Guiyang Symphony performing: Tan Dun, Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds, Zhao Jiping, Violin Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade, op. 35 on Monday, 25. 8. 2025 at 8:00 PM at the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra;73rd Ljubljana Festival
Since its inception, the vision of the orchestra has always been to uphold the highest possible artistic standards while providing an environment that is both conducive to positive music-making and developing the artistic talent of each and every musician of the orchestra. At the same time, equal importance is placed upon developing, educating, and increasing the audience base.
The above vision has seen the orchestra grow from strength to strength. It is reflected in the number of outstanding conductors, soloists, and musicians who have been attracted to perform with the Guiyang Symphony, as well as exceptionally healthy box office sales to all of its concerts with an ever-increasing audience base.
With an international outlook, the Guiyang Symphony is comprised of musicians from more than a dozen different countries and areas, hailing from thirty music conservatories all over the world, with an average age of less than 30 years. The Guiyang Symphony performs a different program each weekend at the Guiyang Grand Theater, and it performs concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Shenyang, Guilin, Korea, and Singapore.
An avid supporter and believer in helping to grow the future of classical music in China, the Guiyang Symphony regularly features young artists in its ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ concert series. Through its active outreach program to local schools and universities, classical music is also being brought to a thirsty audience and the young generation.
The Guiyang Symphony Orchestra recognizes the unusual position it is in, not only in China but globally as well. As such, it is keenly aware of its artistic and social responsibility and will be continually setting higher benchmarks on its way to reach the next artistic ground.
Guoyong Zhang – the Music Director of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra
Zhang Guoyong began his study in conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under the direction of the famous conductor, Prof. Huang Xiaotong. In 1993 he was sponsored by the Chinese government a four years’ study at the Moscow State Conservatory named after Tchaikovsky, where he studied under the world famous conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky and later was granted the PhD in music. He is now the Professor of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, principal conductor of the Shanghai Opera House, and the music director of the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra.
In his career, he has cooperated with several well-known opera houses and orchestras both at home and abroad. Having a large repertoire including symphony, opera, ballet, and symphonic chorus, he is an expert in Russian works, especially Shostakovich’s symphonies.
His style of conducting is brief, natural, and full of intelligence, tension, and infectiousness. At the same time, his conducting bears a combined characteristic of passion and sense. Wherever he performed, he always impressed the audience and musicians with his sharp hearing, strong basic skills, efficient rehearsal method, and appropriate handling of the music structure.
In recent years he was invited as national representative to take part in those important international events, such as the gala concert of the “Sino-American Culture Year”, “Sino- French Culture Year”, “Sino- German Culture Year”, “Sino- Russian Culture Year”, “Sino- Latin America Culture Year” etc.
In 2014, he conducted NCPA’s HDMI opera movie Carmen and Rickshaw Boy and won acclaim. In the next year, he was invited to join the NCPA’s tour to Italy. In 2016 he conducted the China Philharmonic’s premiere in Russia.
In 2006, he was invited to be a member of the jury of the 8th Cadaques International Conducting Competition in Spain.
Maestro Gennady Rozhdestvensky once told the music critics,” I gave Zhang Guoyong the highest marks in the Moscow State Conservatory’s history. He will always have a place in any orchestra all over the world.”
Zhang Guoyong is now the Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Musicians Association and the Vice Chairman of the China Musicians Association. Zhang Guoyong is currently the Music Director of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra.
