China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra

{{short description|Chinese orchestra based in Beijing}}

{{Infobox orchestra

| name = China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra (NCPA Orchestra)

| short_name = NCPA Orchestra

| image =

| caption =

| founded = {{Start date|2010|03|30|df=y}}

| location = No.2 West Chang'an Avenue, Beijing, China

| concert_hall = National Center for the Performing Arts

| principal_conductor = Lü Jia

| website = {{URL|http://www.chncpa.org}}

}}

The China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra ({{zh|s=国家大剧院管弦乐团}}) is a Chinese orchestra based in Beijing. It is the resident orchestra of the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) located in the Xicheng District of Beijing. The NCPA Orchestra and its related organization, the China NCPA Chorus (国家大剧院合唱团),{{Cite web|url=http://ent.cntv.cn/2014/12/09/ARTI1418103169651532.shtml|title=国家大剧院合唱团成立五周年献音乐大礼|last=姜欣|website=ent.cntv.cn|access-date=2016-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104000654/http://ent.cntv.cn/2014/12/09/ARTI1418103169651532.shtml|archive-date=2016-11-04|url-status=dead}} serve primarily as the resident musical ensembles of the NCPA, supporting opera and ballet productions at the theater.{{cite news | url=http://chicagoclassicalreview.com/2014/11/beijing-orchestra-makes-impressive-showing-in-chicago-debut/ | title=Beijing orchestra makes impressive showing in Chicago debut | author=Lawrence A. Johnson | work=Chicago Classical Review | date=2014-11-03 | accessdate=2016-11-02}}

The China NCPA Orchestra was founded in March 2010, with full funding from the Chinese government, three months after the China NCPA Chorus was founded. About 60 musicians were selected from a global pool of candidates with an average age of 27.{{cite news|last1=Su|first1=Xiangdong|title=国家大剧院管弦乐团横空出世 乐队平均年龄27岁|url=http://culture.china.com.cn/2010-04/09/content_19779715.htm|accessdate=15 October 2016|publisher=文化中国网|date=2010-04-09}} For the six years since its establishment, the average age of the musicians has increased from 27 to 31,{{Cite web|url=http://mt.sohu.com/20160415/n444317674.shtml|title=国家大剧院管弦乐团获赞 乐团首席李喆为何当场落泪?-搜狐|website=mt.sohu.com|access-date=2016-10-20}} and the total number of musicians has been doubled.{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2016-04/15/c_128899164.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028083854/http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2016-04/15/c_128899164.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2016|title=国家大剧院 管弦乐团 今年扩编-新华网|website=news.xinhuanet.com|access-date=2016-10-15}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicalchairs.info/uploads/job_sdf/6a99f3e1bb066458283c422b3d413453.pdf|title=Annual Audition|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=2016-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028152349/https://www.musicalchairs.info/uploads/job_sdf/6a99f3e1bb066458283c422b3d413453.pdf|archive-date=2016-10-28|url-status=dead}} The NCPA Orchestra undertook its first North American tour in late 2014.{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2014/11/10/china_ncpa_orchestra_performs_at_koerner_hall_nov_11.html | title=China NCPA Orchestra performs at Koerner Hall Nov. 11 | author=Trish Crawford | work=Toronto Star | date=2014-11-10 | accessdate=2016-11-02}}

Chen Zuohuang was the founding music director of the orchestra, and now holds the title of conductor laureate. Since 2012, the orchestra's chief conductor has been Lü Jia. The orchestra's current assistant conductor is Yuan Ding.