Tong Zhao

Conductor and composer Tong Zhao is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Redlands in California, where she holds a teaching assistantship. Previously, Tong earned a master’s in composition and theory from Yunnan Arts University in Kunming, China, and she studied abroad at the State University of New York at Purchase for one semester. Her bachelor's degree was focused on piano and voice at Kunming University, where she participated in an exchange program at the National Pingtung University of Education in Taiwan. 

Tong has showcased her musical prowess through published articles on national folk music in China and globally distributed compositions, such as "By the Jinsha River" and "Having Fun." Her live CD production, Splendid Ages: Choruses and Symphonic Poem, reflects her passion and commitment to the world of music as a versatile musician. Tong's dream is to combine Western and Chinese traditions through her choral compositions and imprint them on the choral history under her baton.