Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Life
Yan Huichang is a Chinese music conductor of world renown. He has been with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra since June 1997.
Yan Huichang was conferred the title of National Class One Conductor at the First Professional Accreditation of China in 1987. He has received many accolades from the governments of different lands in honour of his contribution to the development of culture, such as the ‘Cultural Medallion (Music)’ by the National Arts Council of Singapore in 2001, a Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) by the Hong Kong SAR Government, Best Conductor Award at the Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music 2018 in Taiwan, 2022 Distinguished Artist Award by the International Society for the Performing Arts and the 17th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards – Award for Outstanding Contribution in Arts etc.
He is currently Director of Chinese National Orchestra Research Center of the He Luting Advanced Research Institute for Chinese Music, of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Professor of its Conducting Department and Supervisor on the Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes of Conservatory, Honorary Fellow of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Guest and Distinguished Professor at many music schools, Honorary Music Director of the Shaanxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra and Permanent Honorary Conductor of the China National Traditional Orchestra. Maestro Yan was appointed Music Director of the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan in 2013 with a tenure up to 2017 and started the ‘Youth Conductor Training Program’. His contribution to nurturing conducting talents in Chinese music in Taiwan is widely recognised.
Yan has led the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra to set many milestones in Chinese music. He launched the Orchestra into omni-directional growth, started the system of commissioning new works, actively entered into mutually beneficial partnerships with crossover disciplines, spearheaded instrumental reform and the establishment of the world’s first Chinese orchestral academy, The HKCO Orchestral Academy. Yan created the Master of Music in Conducting for Chinese Orchestras programme at the HKAPA. Also, he took the lead to organise international symposia and forums on Chinese music, and hosted the first ever ‘International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music’ in the world which was commended by Zhao Jiping, Chairman of the Chinese Musicians’ Association, as ‘a milestone in the history of development of Chinese music’.
After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1983 under the tutorship of renowned conductor Xia Feiyun, and famous composers Hu Dengtiao and He Zhanhao, Yan was appointed Principal Conductor of the China National Orchestra. In addition to Chinese music conducting, Yan has also conducted Western symphony orchestras such as the China National Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra etc. Yan is also actively engaged in composition,and many national awards with his works.
