ENSEMBLES 2015

Zhong-Zheng Junior High School String Orchestra

Zhong-Zheng Junior High School (ZZJHS) String Orchestra, founded in 1999, is an auditioned group of approximately sixty students of grades 7 and 8 with 3-6 years of instrumental background from ZZJHS. It also includes three chamber ensembles: string quartet, piano trio and piano quintet. 

Under the direction of Shang-Ching Lai, ZZJHS string orchestra has been recognized as one of the top junior orchestras in city-wide competition. Individual members and ensemble groups have also won solo and ensemble awards at local and national levels. With the dedication to strive for excellence at technical mastery as well as self-expression, the orchestra program consists of small group sessions taught by a group of talented musicians. It also gives students opportunities to perform with classical to modern repertoire in various venues. 

With the support from enthusiastic parents and the school community, the orchestra continues its mission to bring live classical music to students and teachers on campus, as well as the general public in and outside of school environment. Furthermore, they have traveled abroad to several schools in Japan and Australia in the past for musical and cultural exchange programs, such as Chikko Jr. High School in Osaka, Japan, in 2014, and Canterbery College in Brisbane, Australia, in 2011. Therefore, they are looking forward to attend the SCL International Youth Music Festival in Vienna to share their experience in music and strings with musicians from all around the world.

Yi-Ping Huang

Conductor & Music Director

The conductor, Yi-Ping Huang, has formal musical education and studied cello and piano since early childhood. She worked with the National Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, and the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra; she has ever played around Taiwan with many well-known musicians. In college, she was a former principal cellist.

She has won several awards, including the first prize at the “1994 Taiwan cello competition” and “1993 Taipei cello competition”. In 1996, she was invited to perform encore cello octet with Maestro Rostropovich at the 80th birthday celebration concert in Taiwan. In 2000, she went to United States to study chamber music with David Finkel, cellist of Emerson String Quartet. She had been the conductor of Touqian Junior High School String Orchestra, and teaches cello at senior and junior high music schools. In 2012, she led the Zhong-Zheng Junior High School String Orchestra in Japan exchange with Tamagawa High School. In 2012, she also conducted Zhong-Zheng Junior High School String Orchestra to win the first prize in Taipei student competition of Music.

Currently she works as principal cellist in the Philharmonic orchestra led by a domestic renowned composer, Che-Yi Lee. She regularly participates in live performances, Chamber music concerts and recordings in recent years. She also has extensive experience in performing, conducting and teaching, and is very active in the music scene.

Competition Program

Additional Concerts Program