The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Han-Na Chang as its new music director from September 2013. The young Korean cellist and conductor has forged an international performing career since winning First Prize at the Fifth Rostropovich International Cello Competition in 1994 at the age of 11. She now dedicates the majority of her time to conducting and is the founder and artistic director of the Absolute Classic Festival in Korea.

Chang first conducted the Qatar Philharmonic in two programmes during 2012. The orchestra of 101 musicians was founded in 2007 through auditions held in European and Arab countries. Its first concert took place in 2008, conducted by Lorin Maazel.

‘I am extremely excited about joining the Qatar Philharmonic as music director,’ said Chang. ‘This orchestra is unique in the way it was formed, from high-level simultaneous auditions in major musical capitals. It was born an elite orchestra. With players from 30 different countries, it's an orchestra of the world and for the world, as different parts of this world are interconnected and interwoven more than ever before.’

Chang will next conduct the orchestra in June 2013. Watch a video about the orchestra and Han-Na Chang’s appointment below: