The Chinese Orchestra Wuxi
Founded in 2020, the Chinese Orchestra Wuxi is led by Artistic Director Deng Jiandong, a renowned erhu virtuoso, and Music Director & Principal Conductor Sun Peng, winner of the First Chinese Music Conducting Competition. Distinguished figures such as Ye Cong and Yan Huichang serve as guest conductor and artistic advisor, alongside other eminent composers and soloists.
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Rooted in Wuxi, a city celebrated as the “Hometown of the Erhu” and the cradle of Wu Culture, the orchestra draws inspiration from a rich cultural heritage. Its guiding principles emphasize excellence, individuality, and diversity.
Since its founding, the orchestra has toured across Europe, Asia, and North America, earning wide recognition and awards such as “Outstanding Chinese Orchestra.” Many commissioned works have been supported by national arts funds and received prestigious prizes.
With a focus on innovation, the orchestra aims to create new Chinese orchestral works that reflect Wuxi’s spirit, embody Chinese culture, and resonate worldwide — sharing the refined “Voice of Taihu” with global audiences.
CONDUCTOR: SUN PENG
Sun Peng is considered one of the outstanding conductors of the younger generation in China. He is music director and principal conductor of the Chinese Orchestra Wuxi and permanent guest conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Previous positions have taken him to the Macao Chinese Orchestra and the Shanxi Performing Arts Group Chinese Orchestra, among others.
He initially trained in China with Prof. Yan Huichang, later at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, where he graduated with highest honors. With extensive experience in both Chinese and Western repertoire, Sun Peng has conducted hundreds of concerts, including numerous world premieres, and is considered a versatile and distinguished musician.
Zhang Hongyan / Pipa
Zhang Hongyan is an internationally acclaimed pipa soloist and professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She performs regularly in major concert halls in Asia and Europe and has been hailed by the press as an “ambassador of the East.”
In addition to her concert activities, she is also involved in teaching and cultural outreach. Many of her students have gone on to become award-winning musicians themselves. Through innovative teaching formats and the founding of ensembles, she is shaping the further development of Chinese plucked string music and combining tradition with contemporary repertoire.
Deng Jiandong / Erhu
Deng Jiandong is one of China’s most important erhu virtuosos. He is artistic director of the Chinese Orchestra Wuxi and professor at leading conservatories in Shanghai and Nanjing. Numerous awards, including the China Gold Record Award, recognize his achievements.
As a soloist, he has performed with renowned orchestras worldwide, including the Vienna Musikverein, and has premiered works that are now an integral part of the modern erhu repertoire. Deng’s playing combines technical brilliance with great expressiveness, making him one of the defining voices of his instrument on the international stage.