Zhang Jiemin is conductor in residence at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Zhang has worked with opera houses and orchestras in China and abroad. She conducted Teatro La Venice, Teatro di San Carlo, Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Teatro Municipale Giuseppe Verdi di Salerno, Sinfonietta di Roma, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Latvian National Opera, Istanbul National Orchestra, Madrid Youth Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic, Shanghai National Opera House, China Philharmonic, Beijing Film Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.
From 1997 to 1999, Zhang conducted Carmen, La Bohème and Turandot in Latvian National Opera. From 1997 onwards, she worked as Zubin Mehta’s assistant at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence and took part in the “Turandot at the Forbidden City” project. In 2001, Zhang became Assistant Conductor at the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. In 2006, Zhang conducted the Closing Ceremony Concert of the Venice Carnival at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. She also toured Italy with the orchestra of Teatro La Fenice. In 2007, Zhang conducted La Traviata in Madrid, Turandot at Teatro La Venice, Cavalleria Rusticana at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. She was the first female conductor to conduct operas in these two opera houses. In 2008, Zhang conducted the New Year’s Concert at Teatro Municipale Giuseppe Verdi di Salerno, and conducted the Sinfonietta di Roma in Vatican Concert Hall. In 2009, Zhang conducted several season concerts at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Sicily. Zhang’s 2007 performance of Cavalleria Rustiana in Teatro di San Carlo was released as a DVD video on the TDK label.
Zhang started her studies in piano and percussion at the age of seven. She majored in orchestral conducting and composition and graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.