South Korean cellist Chang to head Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

DOHA (AFP) - South Korean cellist Han-Na Chang, appointed as the first female music director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, said she aims to take the group to international levels.

"My first mission is to make this orchestra a world class orchestra," the 29-year-old cellist said, following her appointment on Monday as music director for 2013-2014.

Chang has performed regularly on the top concert stages of Europe, North America and Asia.

At the age of 11, she won both First Prize and the Contemporary Music Prize at the Fifth Rostropovich International Cello Competition in Paris in 1994.