Xian Zhang (conductor)

Xian Zhang (Chinese: 张弦; born 1973) is a Chinese-American conductor. She is currently the music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) and the music director-designate of the Seattle Symphony. Zhang previously served as the music director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, becoming the first woman appointed as music director of a major Italian symphony orchestra. She was also the first female conductor to hold a titled role with a BBC orchestra, serving as principal guest conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.