Huiling ZHU is a Professor at the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. As a Shanghai-born-mezzo-soprano, Huiling ZHU graduated from the High School affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, and Musikhochschule Stuttgart, where she made her Bachelor, Master, and Soloist (Doctor) degrees of Lieder and Opera.

She made her operatic debut in Offenbach's La Perichole in Graz (Austria) in 2003. Her repertoires include Carmen, Werther, Tannhäuser, Così fan Tutte, Barbe-Bleue, Das Rheingold, The Wilderness, etc., as well as the operettas, in different opera houses such as Stuttgart, NCPA, Zürich, and Hyogo, etc.

In 2013, Huiling ZHU made her opera China debut in NCPA with Les Contes d'Hoffmann. As an opera singer, she was invited by different orchestras and opera houses in China, such as NCPA, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO), Central Opera House, singing Andrea Chénier (Bersi), Tannhäuser (Venus), L'Heure Espagnole, Carmen, etc.

Under the direction of Yu Long, Lü Jia, Zhang Guoyong, Tang Muhai, Yu Feng, Zhang Yi, Zhang Jiemin, Lin Daye, Lü Shao-Chia, Manfred Honeck, etc., she collaborated with China Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, China NCPA Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphoniker, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, China National Ballet Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, Ningbo Symphony Orchestra, etc., to perform Mahler's No. 2, No. 3 and No. 8 Symphony, "Das Lied von der Erde" and "Des Knaben Wunderhorn", Verdi's "Requiem di Messa," Schubert's Rosamunde, the world premiere of Xiaogang YE's Symphony No. 4 "Songs from the Steppe," Symphony No. 5 "Lu Xun," Symphony Hidden Tapestries-Myths of Creation and Ode to the Hero for voice and orchestra, etc. In 2017, she was invited to participate in the Gala concerts tour of "World Human Rights Day" and the "Silk Road" organized by the United Nations in Geneva Switzerland, and other countries. In 2018, Huiling ZHU joined the world premiere of Tan Dun's "Buddha Passion" with the Munich Philharmonic in LA with LA Phil (Gustavo Dudamel) and toured in Melbourne (Melbourne Phil), Hong Kong SAR (Hong Kong Symphony), and London (London Symphony).

In 2021, she made her lieder recital debut in China with pianist Xue Yingjia which received great reviews from critics and audiences. In 2022, under the baton of Yu Long, she sang Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder on Guangzhou Symphony's Season Closing Concert, and Shanghai MISA Festival Opening Concert under Zhang Lu. In November 2023, Huiling Zhu joined the world premiere and US premiere with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic of Oratorio Émigré (as Li Song), as well as the published recording by DG. During the seasons, she gives her lieder recital tour in China, with pianists Xue Yingjia, Li Jian, and Burkhard Kehring.

Besides singing, Huiling ZHU is also the art director of the charity association Siftung Chinesische Nachwuchskünstler in Germany, the judge of the Timmendorf Music Competition in Germany, the Chinese Music Golden Bell Awards 2019, and the 1st Little Golden Bell Awards 2024.