The National Chinese Orchestra, Taiwan (NCO; ) is a

Chinese orchestra The term Chinese orchestra is most commonly used to refer to the modern Chinese orchestra that is found in China and various overseas Chinese communities. This modern Chinese orchestra first developed out of Jiangnan sizhu ensemble in the 1920s i ...

based in

Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

(Republic of China). The ensemble was founded in 1984 as the National Art Academy Experimental Chinese Orchestra. Due to administrative changes, the orchestra was renamed National Experimental Chinese Orchestra in 1990, and National Chinese Orchestra in 2006. It comprises 93 musicians and takes responsibility of collecting, researching, performing, recording, and publishing the traditional music in Taiwan. Before 2008, the orchestra was run by the

Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

and administrated by the

National Taiwan University of Arts National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA; ) is a university in Banqiao District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. It is the oldest and most prestigious art university in Taiwan. History National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA) was established as the N ...

. The orchestra is now administrated by the new

National Center for Traditional Arts The National Center for Traditional Arts (NCFTA; ) or also called Center for Traditional Arts is located by the river bank of Dongshan River in Wujie Township, Yilan County, Taiwan. The center's total area is 24 hectares. The goal of the cent ...

under the

Council for Cultural Affairs The Ministry of Culture (MOC, ) is the ministry of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that promotes cultural and creative industries. The ministry also maintains thNational Repository of Cultural Heritage History Established in 1981 by Executive Y ...

Li Shi-Min Li, li, or LI may refer to: Businesses and organizations * Landscape Institute, a British professional body for landscape architects * Leadership Institute, a non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia, US, that teaches "political tec ...

was the first principal conductor of the orchestra. In 1999, the orchestra appointed famous conductor and composer Qu Chunquan from

Mainland China "Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...

as principal conductor. After 10 years of direction under Chu,

Wen Yi-jen Wen Yi-jen () is a Taiwanese classical conductor. He was the Principal Guest Conductor of the National Theatre Belgrade. Career Early studies Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Wen Yi-jen had his first piano lessons at age six with his mother. He atte ...

was appointed music director for the 08/09 season, also the first season of the ensemble. The position of music director is currently on call, and conductor

is now serving as the principal guest conductor of the orchestra.

Conductors

, principal conductor 1988–1999 * Qu Chunquan, principal conductor 1999–2008 *

, music director 2008–2009

External links

Official website (Chinese)

Taiwanese orchestras Chinese orchestras Musical groups established in 1984 1984 establishments in Taiwan {{Taiwan-band-stub