Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra names Han-Na Chang as new Music Director Chang to build orchestra of the world for the world

She assumes the position of Music Director at the age of 30—the same age as the average of its 101 members when it was founded four years ago.

At the press conference for the announcement, Chang stated: "I am extremely excited about joining the Qatar Philharmonic as Music Director. 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".

Chang conducted the Qatar Philharmonic for two programs in 2012, including the world premiere of Houtaf Khoury's "Angel of Light" piano concerto. Chang commented: "During my two weeks with the orchestra I felt so much potential and passion. It will be my job as Music Director to help build this orchestra reach its fullest potential concert by concert".

Chang continued, "Qatar Philharmonic is not only an orchestra for Qatar. 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. We're fortunate that Qatar is investing in culture. With our unique combination of personal background diversity and passionate unity in Music, it will become one of the most relevant orchestras in the world. This is my vision, to make the Philharmonic such an ensemble artistically".

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra is a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Research and Community Development (QF), and embraces QF's mission of "unlocking human potential" by bringing music from around the world to local communities, planting the seeds of symphonic music in the Arab region and helping Qatar in its goal of moving towards a knowledge-based economy.

Han-Na Chang has proven to be a strong advocate for realizing potential through music. Her efforts to date include a seven-part documentary performance series featuring Beethoven's Symphonies, conducted and narrated by Chang and produced by MBC TV in Korea. In 2009 Chang founded the Absolute Classic Festival in Korea, where she serves as the Artistic Director. Each year, its orchestra is newly auditioned, discovering outstanding talents from its pool of over a hundred instrumentalists in their twenties and thirties.

While best known as a cellist, Han-Na Chang now dedicates the majority of her time to conducting. Recent and future engagements include appearances with the Bamberger Symphoniker, Seattle Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the Grosses Orchester Graz and the Singapore, Tokyo, Trondheim and Tivoli symphony orchestras.

Han-Na Chang first gained international recognition at the age of 11, when she won both the First Prize and the Contemporary Music Prize at the Fifth Rostropovich International Cello Competition in Paris in 1994. Since then Chang has performed regularly on the most prestigious concert stages of Europe, North America and Asia. Han-Na Chang has performed with orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Philharmoniker, The Philadelphia, Cleveland and Philharmonia orchestras, the London, Chicago and Boston Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Sydney Symphony, l'Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre National de France. Her numerous recordings for EMI Classics have received many awards and remain world-wide bestsellers.

Kurt Meister, Executive Director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, anticipates the significant influence Chang will have over the orchestra. "Han-Na has broad knowledge and deep experience, with a particular edge as a conductor in knowing how string players think and perceive. The orchestra will grow and evolve with her".

Meister adds, "Han-Na is the kind of person with a drive for continual development. After a long career as a famous cellist she decided to rise to the conducting challenge. She combines her Asian roots with western musical traditions, and is now keen to delve further into Arabic traditions and society. She will help this orchestra grow and evolve".

Chang conducts the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in June 2013 and joins them as Music Director in September.