Jiawei ZHANG

Born in 1995 into a family of musicians, Jiawei Zhang has today established himself as one of the most prominent Chinese clarinetists of his generation.

His career took a decisive turn in 2017, when he won the First Prize of the Shanghai National Clarinet Competition, one of the most prestigious distinctions in the country.

He currently holds the positions of Associate Principal Clarinet of the CCOM Symphony Orchestra, Guest Principal Clarinet of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, and Clarinet Professor at Tsinghua University.

In recognition of his expertise, he was invited to serve as a jury member of the Buffet Crampon Clarinet Competition — the most important professional clarinet competition in China — in 2023 and 2025.

Education and Early Career

Jiawei Zhang began studying the clarinet at the age of 8 under the guidance of his father.

At 15, he became a student of Professor Yuan Yuan, an internationally renowned virtuoso and pedagogue at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing (CCOM).

Admitted to the CCOM in 2014, he won the Second Prize of the Busan International Music Competition the same year.

From 2015 to 2017, he served as Principal Clarinet of the China Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In 2018, he was directly admitted to the Master’s program at the Central Conservatory of Music, achieving the highest score among wind instruments.

Orchestral Career

Regarded as one of the most outstanding orchestral clarinetists in China, Jiawei Zhang collaborates with nearly all major national orchestras, including:

➤ Beijing Symphony Orchestra

 
➤ China National Symphony Orchestra

 
➤ China Philharmonic Orchestra

 
➤ National Ballet of China Orchestra

 
➤ National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra of China

 
➤ National Opera and Dance Drama Theatre Symphony Orchestra of China

 
➤ China Radio, Film and Television Symphony Orchestra

His performances are widely praised by conductors and colleagues, making him one of the very few clarinetists to have collaborated with all major national symphony orchestras.

Pedagogical Commitment and Clarinet Outreach

Deeply committed to the promotion of the clarinet, Jiawei Zhang plays a key role in several major events:

➤ Assistant Artistic Director and Secretary General of the CCOM International Clarinet Festival

 
➤ Assistant Director of the Dezhou International Clarinet Festival

He is regularly invited by prestigious institutions, including:

➤ Tsinghua University

 
➤ Beijing Film Academy, where he gives specialized lectures on the clarinet

He also publishes numerous articles in leading media outlets, notably Music Weekly.

Translation and International Transmission

Alongside his artistic career, Jiawei Zhang is a recognized professional music translator.

His translations include:

➤ The orchestral excerpts manual by Peter Hadcock, former Principal Clarinet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

 
➤ The pedagogical work of British educator Paul Harris, published in March 2021 by the Southwest China Normal University Press

Since 2013, he has regularly worked as an interpreter for CCOM masterclasses, as well as for many international events, including:

➤ CCOM International Clarinet Festival

 
➤ Beijing Music Festival

 
➤ National Centre for the Performing Arts of China

 
➤ International Clarinet Art Week of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra

Artistic Partnership

Jiawei Zhang is a JLV Sound Paris Ambassador and plays exclusively with the JLV Platinum ligature, which he chooses for its precision, freedom of vibration, and reliability in both orchestral and solo contexts.