Jiran (Charles) Niu

His main area of research is orchestra conducting, and he is also a pianist and percussionist. He is currently the instructor lecturer at Duke Kunshan University. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics(SUFE) and an M.A. in Conducting from Shanghai Conservatory of Music(SCM).

In 2024, Charles won the ‘Absolute First Prize’ at the Vivaldi Conducting Competition. He has been frequently recommended by the Composition and Conducting Department of SCM to participate in the ‘Future Maestro’ concert series and has been invited to conduct various professional orchestras. These include Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra and Macau Chinese Orchestra.

Charles has served as the Mainland China team leader for the Asian Youth Orchestra from 2016 to 2017 and was invited to perform in several international festivals, including the Lucerne Music Festival, the Ravello Music Festival, Berlin Young Euro Classic Music Festival, and Brevard Music Center Festival in the USA, with performances spanning the globe. From 2021 to 2023, he was the assistant conductor of Wuxi Chinese Orchestra, where he meticulously arranged and promoted Chinese ethnic music, making significant contributions to the popularization of Chinese ethnic music and opening the doors of art to students. During 2023 to 2024, he worked in Wuxi Symphony Orchestra and represented the orchestra in cultural exchanges traveling to the UK and Japan.

Charles is also the music director and permanent conductor in several student orchestras now. He conducted Shanghai Datong Middle School Symphony Orchestra at the 39th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, instructed Suzhou Lida Middle School Symphony Orchestra to win the championship at the 7th Primary and Secondary School Art Performance and performed with Wuxi Jinqiao Student Symphony Orchestra in several times in Taihu Culture and Art Festival Youth Symphony Exhibition, receiving widespread acclaim.

钮吉然的主要研究方向是交响乐团指挥，同时他还是钢琴家和打击乐演奏家。他现任昆山杜克大学音乐讲师。他在上海财经大学获得经济学学士学位，在上海音乐学院获得指挥硕士学位。

钮吉然曾在2024年维瓦尔第指挥比赛中斩获‘绝对第一名’奖项，并屡次被上海音乐学院作曲指挥系推举选入“未来指挥家”系列音乐会，多次受邀与各大职业乐团开展合作。他合作过乐团包括：无锡交响乐团、贵阳交响乐团、青岛交响乐团和澳门中乐团。

钮吉然曾在亚洲青年管弦乐团担任中国大陆地区领队，应邀参加瑞士琉森音乐节、意大利Ravello音乐节、柏林欧洲青年音乐节、美国Brevard音乐节等多个国际艺术节，演出足迹遍布全球。2021-2023年，他担任无锡民族乐团助理指挥，精心编排打造民族音乐，进行中国民族音乐的普及和推广，为学生打开艺术之门。2023-2024年，他在无锡交响乐团任职，作为乐团代表赴英国和日本进行文化交流。此外，他还担任数个学生乐团的艺术总监和常任指挥。他带领上海大同中学交响乐团参加第39届上海之春国际音乐节；带领苏州立达中学交响乐团在第七届中小学生艺术展演活动中获得冠军；带领无锡金桥学生交响乐团多次参加无锡太湖文化艺术季青少年交响乐展演，广受好评。