Xian Zhang, the new music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO), takes bow after her debut with the NJSO musicians at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Thursday. NIU YUE / FOR CHINA DAILY

Internationally renowned conductor Xian Zhang made her first appearance with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) since being named its new music director.

"I take great pride in becoming music director of this historic orchestra, which has been associated with a succession of respectable maestros," said Zhang, who will be the first woman and the first Asian American to hold the post in the orchestra's 94-year history.

During the season preview this Thursday to Sunday, Zhang conducts a program featuring Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave and Symphony No 4, and Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto at three venues across the state — the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown.

Zhang said she was excited about the concerts for several reasons.

"These are my first concerts after the announcement, and Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite composers. This program is very passionate, emotional and lyrical. I think melodies are important, and this program is filled with beautiful romantic ones,"she said.

Before the appointment was announced last November, Zhang had guest conducted the NJSO several times in seasons past.

"I have enjoyed the flexibility and sensibility in the musicians' playing and eagerness for wanting to sound good as a group, not personal heroics," said Zhang.

"I also loved interacting with the New Jersey audiences. They are very curious, open and supportive of the symphony," Zhang added.

"I thought she was wonderful," Audrey Kurty, a concertgoer said during the intermission at Thursday's concert. "She was terrific, especially the last movement was beautiful and I really love that. I've never heard Barber before — that was really a treat."

"We are very excited, absolutely she is able to transform the orchestra," said Bart Feller, principal flautist of the orchestra after Thursday's concert. "We are very impressed with her energy level. She's a little bit on the short side but when she's on that podium, there's nothing small about her."

"She is in control of the whole situation but she is not controlling, she lets musicians play, she makes us feel comfortable, she trusts musicians that we should play our solos as we want,"Feller added.

Zhang will officially assume the position in September when the 2016- 2017 season begins.

"New Jersey is a very diverse state in many aspects," Zhang said. "The NJSO plays the role of the ‘musical messenger' of the state — I think that's incredible. It makes this orchestra different and special in the United States, where most orchestras play in their home hall only."

"New Jersey has a large population of not only Chinese but also Asians, like Koreans and Indians, which is very diversified," Zhang said where her appointment was announced. "We are more than willing to promote cultural exchange programs between different cultures in the future."

Born in Dandong, China, Zhang, 42, made her professional debut conducting The Marriage of Figaro at the Central Opera House in Beijing at the age of 20.

She trained at Beijing's Central Conservatory, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees, and served a year on its conducting faculty before moving to the US in 1998.

She was appointed assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic in 2002, subsequently becoming their associate conductor and first holder of the Arturo Toscanini Chair.

Zhang frequently returns to her native China, where she is a regular conductor with the China Philharmonic, Beijing Symphony and Guangzhou Symphony. A champion of Chinese composers, she recently conducted the world premiere of Chinese composer Qigang Chen's Luan Tan, which was commissioned by the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Working with young talented musicians continues to play a major part in Zhang's life. She has held the position of artistic director of the National youth Orchestra in the Netherlands since 2011 and this summer made a successful debut with the European Union Youth Orchestra.