Founder & Artistic Director

Dr. Tong Zhang is a pianist, educator, and adjudicator. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music, her Master of Music from Northwestern University, and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, where she was awarded the Dorothy A. and Claude R. Langford Keyboard Fellowship.

She has appeared in solo and collaborative performances internationally, including at Carnegie Hall, and has served as an adjudicator for national and international piano competitions. Her students have received top awards and have continued their studies at leading conservatories and universities worldwide.

With more than a decade of experience in teaching and public performance, Dr. Zhang emphasizes interpretive depth, expressive intensity, and attentive listening as essential foundations for meaningful musical connection.

As Founder and Artistic Director of Aetna Music & Arts Foundation, Dr. Zhang leads the artistic vision of the Well-Being Concert Series and the Foundation’s educational initiatives in the San Francisco Bay Area, designing programs that cultivate presence, artistic discipline, and community resilience.

Composer-in-Residence

Dr. Xuesi Xu is a media and concert composer. He holds a Doctor of Music in Composition from Florida State University, a Master of Music from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, and a Bachelor of Music from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He also earned a Master of Arts in Professional Media Composition from ThinkSpace Education.

His work has been performed by orchestras and chamber ensembles internationally. With experience in both academic and professional media production, Dr. Xu contributes structural insight and contemporary creative perspective to collaborative artistic projects.

At Aetna Music & Arts Foundation, Dr. Xu supports the development of original works and interdisciplinary collaborations within the Well-Being Concert Series, expanding the Foundation’s programming beyond interpretation into new musical creation.

Director of Programs

Chengqi Zhang is an artist and strategy leader with experience in nonprofit governance and over a decade of experience leading large-scale product and systems development initiatives. She holds an MBA from Yale University and brings expertise in governance design, structured decision-making, and long-term organizational planning to mission-driven institutions.

Her work focuses on shaping thoughtful structures and experiences that support care, well-being, and emotional resilience.

At Aetna Music & Arts Foundation, Chengqi provides governance and strategic oversight, helping build sustainable organizational frameworks that enable the Foundation’s artistic and educational initiatives to grow with stability and intention.

Director of Operations

Esther Gao is an operations leader with experience in complex organizational management and cross-functional coordination. As a Graduate Gemologist with academic backgrounds in Public Relations and Industrial Design, Esther brings a unique blend of analytical thinking, clear communication, and creative problem-solving to her leadership style.

She previously worked at internationally recognized auction houses, including Sotheby’s and Phillips, where she managed complex workflows, collaborated across teams, and supported high-level client relationships in detail-driven environments.

At Aetna Music & Arts Foundation, Esther provides operational leadership and implementation oversight, aligning internal coordination and external communication to support the Foundation’s artistic and educational initiatives with consistency and long-term sustainability.