NJ.com: How Xian Zhang is ‘transforming the orchestra’

NJ.com writes:

Even casual fans of classical music undoubtedly know the "Big Three:" Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. That may lead them to the conclusion that classical is an Old World construct.

But the United States not only has its own homegrown composing masters but has also influenced the works of others. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will highlight that impact during its 2017-18 season's Winter Festival theme, "America, Inspiring."

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Conductor Zhang, who is embarking on her second season with the orchestra, won critical acclaim during her first season with the orchestra. Writing for NJ Advance Media, James C. Taylor noted that after the final 2017 concert, Zhang had "left her audiences wanting more."

Zhang said she watched audiences grow throughout the 2016-17 season. 

"We got more and more people as the season went on," she said. "The smaller halls were totally packed."

She's hoping the same is true for this season, particularly with the expanded Winter Festival offerings, which includes nine concerts as well as post-concert conversations, wine tastings, poetry readings and even an event that features an artist painting as he's inspired by NJSO.

Zhang, a native of China, said the Winter Festival's theme is particularly relevant with immigration so prominent in the news worldwide. One message is that music transcends differences.

"Particularly sonic music, you don't need to understand any words to get it which is why it goes above and beyond words," Zhang said. "The beautiful thing about music is that it touches you as a human being, directly, through your emotions and  your brain and sometimes it's even physical. We should be united behind it."

» Read the full feature at www.nj.com