Artistic Leadership
Jin Zhang, Conductor
Jin (Jack) Zhang, composer and conductor, studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and at Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo. He also took conducting master classes with maestros Kazuyoshi Akiyama and Seiji Ozawa.
He has received multiple commissioning grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and his compositions have been played by many major orchestras, including the Vancouver Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic Symphony, the Victoria Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony.
Jack is an internationally-awarded artist. His successes include a Heritage Music Award for the film score of “Lama in the West” at AVIFF Cannes in France, and the UK’s New Media Writing Prize for “High Muck A Muck: Playing Chinese” a multimedia project for which he did the composition and sound design.
Currently Jack is Music Director and Conductor of the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra, and the Canada Chinese Performing Arts Society.
Nicholas Urquhart, Associate Conductor
Nicholas Urquhart is a dynamic conductor known for his compelling artistry, thoughtful programming, and deep commitment to musical excellence. With a reputation for bringing clarity, emotional depth, and interpretive insight to the podium, Urquhart’s performances resonate with both players and audiences alike.
Equally at home with symphonic masterworks, contemporary compositions, and cross-genre collaborations, Nicholas brings a collaborative spirit and a pursuit of artistic integrity to the ensembles. Whether conducting the Harmonia Ensemble, West Coast Symphony, festival orchestras, high school orchestras or WVYB Strings, Nicholas approaches each musical endeavour with a sense of potential for creative excellence.
Nicholas believes that music can build community, spark dialogue, and inspire change. He sits on the board of Instruments Beyond Borders, a foundation dedicated to putting instruments in the hands of under-serviced youth, in Vancouver, Paraguay, Mexico, and Liberia. He believes when you put music in a young person's hands, you open their hearts to a belief in the human spirit.
Nicholas is dedicated to creating meaningful musical experiences at every intersection and tirelessly pursues connecting the music to the ensembles, to the audiences.
Nicholas studied Double Bass at the University of Victoria, and has a degree in music education from UBC and a Master’s degree from Acadia University in music curriculum and pedagogy.