Zhang Danying was born into a musical family. Both her mother and grandmother were flutists; her grandmother was the lifetime principal flutist at the Tianjin Song and Dance Theatre, and her mother has long been involved in flute education. Zhang lived with her grandparents in her early years, where her grandfather was a calligraphy expert at the Tianjin Museum. This environment deeply immersed her in a musical and cultural atmosphere from a young age. She started learning the flute from her grandmother at the age of 10 and was admitted to the middle school affiliated with the Tianjin Conservatory of Music a year later.

 

After graduating from high school, she pursued a Bachelor's degree in flute performance in Singapore, studying under the renowned flutist Professor Jinta. During her studies, she underwent rigorous orchestra and chamber music training. Before completing her degree, she was accepted into both the Manhattan School of Music and the University of North Texas, receiving full scholarships at each. In the U.S., she studied under the famous flutist educators Dr. Sheryl Cohen and Prof. Terri Sundberg.

 

Driven by her passion for the flute and her desire for the European musical environment, she traveled to several countries including Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland for further study. She participated in music festivals in France and Italy, where she also performed publicly. During her travels, she studied with French flute master Loïc Schneider, the principal flutist of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. In 2016, she entered the Paris Conservatoire, studying under Catherine Cantin (principal flutist of the Paris Opera) and Michel Moragues (principal flutist of the French National Orchestra), graduating at the top of her class with a diploma in education and was a finalist in the "Gheorghe Dima" International Flute Competition in Romania. The following year, she earned a Master's degree in flute performance. During her time in France, she was frequently invited to perform solo concerts and chamber music concerts at the Paris City Hall.

 

After two years of study with Michel Moragues, he praised her as having "an exceptionally high standard in music and art, compelling me to help her reach the pinnacle of artistry," and he wrote her a personal letter of recommendation.