The BBC National Orchestra & Chorus of Wales have today announced that their next Principal Guest Conductor will be Xian Zhang. She will become the first female conductor ever to have a titled role with a BBC orchestra.

In an official statement, Zhang said: 'I’m so excited to be working with BBC National Orchestra of Wales; they are a fantastic group of musicians who genuinely love making music, and are a natural team. They have some exceptional qualities that have really impressed me. The first thing we ever worked on together was Ravel’s Boléro, it was so precise, with the right colour and texture - I was really speechless after the first reading! Under the strong leadership of Lesley Hatfield, the musicians rehearse in such a disciplined manner that is not often seen. It's a great pleasure to make music with them and I very much look forward to further developing our relationship in my new role with BBC NOW.'

In 2009, Zhang became the Music Director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi and will also become Music Director of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2016-17 season.