Dr. Wanzhe Zhang, recipient of The Supreme Artistic Title Honour of People’s Artist of Yugoslavia—bestowed by H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia—is an acclaimed Chinese soprano whose transcendent artistry has bridged cultures and continents. Celebrated as the first Chinese female lead at the National Opera of Belgrade, she is a visionary leader in global cultural diplomacy and youth music education.

Dr. Zhang serves as a full professor at UNION Nikola Tesla University in Belgrade, where she contributes to international academic development in music and performing arts. As President of the Universal Artists Foundation and Vice President of the Chinese-Serbian Center for Scientific and Cultural Exchange, she has led pioneering initiatives that connect East and West through the universal language of music. Her influence extends across performance, education, and intercultural collaboration.

She has graced many of the world’s foremost stages, including the United Nations Headquarters, Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, Kolarac Hall, Belgrade Philharmonic Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, and Hangzhou Grand Theatre. Praised by Sing Tao Daily for her “masterful technique and passionate expression,” her debut album Serbia ∙ China Stage, released by the Parisian label Anima, was honored with archival inclusion by the MIT Libraries and designated as part of the permanent cultural heritage collection at Harvard University’s Loeb Music Library World Music Archives—marking a rare recognition of contemporary Sino-Serbian artistic collaboration.

Beyond the concert stage, Dr. Zhang is a champion of artistic diplomacy. She has organized cultural exchange tours featuring 12 leading U.S. music institutions in China and hosted seminal events such as the Voice Internationalization Forum and Vocal Education Seminar at the Central Conservatory of Music. Over more than a decade in Europe and the United States, she has produced renowned music festivals, competitions, and “Belt and Road” cultural programs in partnership with the Belgrade Cultural Center, leaving a lasting imprint on regional arts development.

As the founding member and Honorary President of the Boston Chinese Musicians Association, Dr. Zhang established the Boston Chinese Musicians Choir and the Boston Chinese Musicians Youth Orchestra, cultivating a vibrant platform for Chinese musicians in North America and inspiring a new generation through cross-cultural performance and education.

Her musical journey began with intensive study under tenor Haitao Hei at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, followed by mentorship from American soprano Karen Holvik at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she earned dual graduate degrees. Dr. Zhang is currently completing her second Ph.D. degrees in Chamber Music at the University of Arts in Belgrade.

With each performance, Dr. Wanzhe Zhang elevates her voice as a powerful instrument of cultural unity, advancing mutual understanding and shared humanity through the timeless resonance of music.