As a national-level orchestra directly under the Ministry of Culture, China National Traditional Orchestra, founded in 1960 under the direction of Premier Zhou Enlai, is regarded as the standard-setter, model and benchmark of China's folk music performance. The Orchestra made up of folk orchestra, chorus and art creation center boasts a group of musicians and sharp-sighted managers.

 

 

China National Traditional Orchestra not only performs typical traditional music in various forms but dabbles in contemporary Chinese music, western classical music, and other genres.

 

In 1993, the Orchestra founded the Asia Orchestra together with the Ensemble Nipponia and National Orchestra of Korea to promote artistic creation and exchanges of Asian folk music. In 1997, the Orchestra toured dozens of cities in America at the invitation of ICM and staged with world-renown cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the Carnegie Hall. In 1998, 1999 and 2010, the Orchestra staged the Grand Spring Festival Concerts at the Golden Hall of Vienna, Austria, whose performance won warm applause from the audience.